GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Vice President Kamala Harris made a significant stop at the Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids on Thursday as part of what the White House calls her nationwide “Fight for Reproductive Freedoms” tour. The media calls her campaign an “abortion rights tour.”
Harris hosted a mostly-female roundtable and sat with abortion access advocates, including the ACLU of Michigan, as well as elected officials, including two of the top abortion-supporters in the state, Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow.
Roundtable not much of a roundtable.
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Although “roundtables” are generally a group of people who debate a specific topic, giving everyone an “equal right” to be heard, the Harris visit didn’t seem to have allowed any dissenting viewpoints. The meeting also had a lack of transparency with the press only allowed to be in the room for about 15 minutes while Democratic groups like “Michigan Voices” stayed in the room to represent the state.
In the White House press release on Harris’ tour across the country, it says, “Vice President Kamala Harris will embark on a nationwide reproductive freedoms tour to continue fighting back against extreme attacks throughout America. She will hit the road to states across the country in early 2024 as she holds a series of events that bring together thousands of people to fight for the freedom of every American to make decisions about their own body.”
Harris sounds off on abortion war.
Harris has said about her tour: “Extremists across our country continue to wage a full-on attack against hard-won, hard-fought freedoms as they push their radical policies – from banning abortion in all 50 states and criminalizing doctors, to forcing women to travel out of state in order to get the care they need.”
She went on to say, “I will continue to fight for our fundamental freedoms while bringing together those throughout America who agree that every woman should have the right to make decisions about her own body – not the government.”
Grand Rapids is fourth stop in abortion rights tour.
This Michigan visit comes just a month after Harris’ tour started on January 22nd in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Her focus is on addressing the challenges faced by reproductive rights advocates, organizers, and elected officials following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022.
While in Grand Rapids in front of abortion supporters, Harris said, “We have seen laws being passed that make no exception, even for rape and incest…Which means these so-called leaders, who are extremists, are telling a survivor of a crime…a survivor of a violation to their body that they, that survivor, have no right to make a decision about what happens to their body next.”
She also talked about her opposition to a national abortion ban and asked supporters to continue to use their voice and “stay engaged in the fight for fundamental freedoms.”
Reproductive rights landscape in Michigan:
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The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to leave abortion rights up to individual states has placed Michigan in the spotlight, particularly given the prominence of the 1931 abortion ban. However, the Michigan Legislature took a significant step in March 2023 by voting to repeal the ban.
The state witnessed further developments on abortion in November when Right to Life Michigan filed a lawsuit against Proposal 3, which enshrined the right to abortion care into the state constitution.
Despite the legal challenges, Proposal 3 was approved by Michigan voters, solidifying Section 28 Article 1 into law.
Harris visit emphasized that Michigan is a key swing state.
The upcoming presidential primary on February 27th and the current absentee and early voting in the state adds significance to Harris’ visit, as Michigan is expected to play a pivotal role as a key swing state in the fall.
The approval of Proposal 3 in 2022 further highlights the state’s importance in shaping national discussions on reproductive rights.
Right to Life Michigan’s response to the Harris visit:
Not everyone welcomed Harris’ visit, as evidenced by the response from Right to Life of Michigan. The organization’s president, Amber Roseboom, characterizes Harris’ visit as a “charade” aimed at misleading voters about the supposed risk to abortion access in Michigan.
Roseboom contends that women in Michigan currently have the right to access abortion for any reason and at any stage of pregnancy. She also underscores the recent legislative changes, including the removal of certain health and safety standards for abortion clinics.
More responses to the Harris visit…
In a statement from the Michigan House Republican Women’s Caucus, members criticized the Biden administration’s record saying, “If the best Democrats can do is send Kamala out to stump for them on abortion, which Michigan voters already settled, Republicans will certainly be taking back the gavel come November.”
Also in opposition to the Harris visit were pro-Palestinian protesters holding up “Free Gaza” and “Ceasefire now” signs.
Putting abortion at the center of minds instead of the Israel conflict.
Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit to Grand Rapids comes at a crucial juncture in the presidential primary and the Democrats’ fight to stay in the White House after the November election.
With dwindling support in southeast Michigan from Democrat voters who are pro-Palestinian and polling showing a tight race between President Biden and former President Trump in Michigan in November, the Democrats can’t afford to lose too much of their base in the presidential race.
Shoring up abortion support, or maybe fear concerning upcoming elections, Harris said while in Grand Rapids, “This is a very real issue, and I thank again the governor and the Michigan legislature for all you have done. But do understand, the people of Michigan cannot sit back and take comfort without also understanding that elections matter and that there is a full-on concerted effort to pass a national ban; which would mean the people of Michigan would not be as safe.”
