Mecosta County residents plan to Rally For Our Rights on July 23, 2022

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Big Rapids Women’s March is planning to show its support for continued access to abortion care in the state of Michigan. From 12 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 23, 2022, the Rally For Our Rights will take place at Mitchell Creek Park in Big Rapids. Supporters of the movement to protect abortion rights are encouraged to gather at the park to make signs and demonstrate their support at the rally. Musicians and local resource providers also will be on site. With the Supreme Court’s move to give individual states the choice to legislate around abortion care, Michigan voters are already making moves to protect access to this form of reproductive healthcare. On July 13, canvassers submitted more than 750,000 petition signatures to state election officials in hopes of having Michigan residents vote in November 2022 on whether or not to continue to allow abortion in the state of Michigan. Election officials should announce their decision about whether to include this measure on the ballot by the end of August. If approved, Michigan voters will have the opportunity to vote to amend the state constitution; protecting residents’ rights to abortion care. This would avoid “triggering” Michigan’s existing 1931 law that would make all abortions a felony punishable by up to four years in prison. Earlier this year, before the Supreme Court’s decision, Planned Parenthood of Michigan and Dr. Sarah Wallett filed a lawsuit seeking to block enforcement of the 1931 law. In May, the Michigan Court of Claims granted a preliminary injunction in the suit, meaning the 1931 law will not go into effect until there is a decision in the lawsuit. This remains in place now. Additionally, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer already has signed an executive order limiting the extradition of people to or from Michigan if they're facing criminal charges for obtaining, providing, or assisting an abortion. , With the fate of abortion access in Michigan at stake, the Mecosta County Democrats encourage our members and supporters to join the Rally For Our Rights this Saturday at Mitchell Creek Park. For more information, visit the event page here .