More than 25,000 new volunteers signed up to support Reproductive Freedom for All in the last week
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DETROIT – Today, Reproductive Freedom for All (RFFA), in a growing coalition with Michigan Voices, ACLU of Michigan, and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, is building upon unprecedented momentum in the state to keep abortion legal and protect everyone’s reproductive freedoms.
One week after the draft U.S. Supreme Court decision was leaked, RFFA has grown exponentially. In that time:
- more than 25,000 additional volunteers have signed up to support this campaign to amend the state constitution, and
- almost $220,000 in donations have been raised online from more than 1,700 individual donors.
“I've never seen this much volunteer engagement on a campaign all at once,” said Jessica Ayoub, Field Director for American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan. “This surge of support is further proof that Michiganders agree: abortion is healthcare, and they are passionately committed to keeping abortion legal and preserving reproductive freedoms in our state.”
Reproductive Freedom for All would amend the Michigan Constitution to explicitly affirm Michiganders’ fundamental right to make and carry out decisions without political interference in all matters related to pregnancy, abortion, birth control, miscarriage care, prenatal care, and childbirth. This ballot measure is the only one of its kind in the nation where voters are being asked to enshrine these rights in the state constitution. Passing this amendment will make Michigan a model of what is possible for other states to follow suit.
Sign up to volunteer, learn where to sign a petition in person, or donate to Reproductive Freedom for All at mireproductivefreedom.org.
Michigan Voices Executive Director Sommer Foster released this statement:
“The leaked draft of SCOTUS’ decision became a wake-up call for everybody who believes in reproductive freedom in Michigan. This momentum is a result of it, and it’s only the beginning; an exciting and motivating beginning for all of us. The high level of engagement we’ve received is extremely moving, and we’re determined to protect the right to abortion access in the Michigan constitution by working together to pass the Reproductive Freedom for All Amendment. Personal health decisions, especially deeply personal ones pertaining to abortions, should not be subject to interferences from external figures like politicians to judges.”
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan Executive Director Nicole Wells Stallworth released this statement:
“This is an all-hands-on-deck moment, and this is an all-hands-on-deck movement. Michiganders believe abortion should be legal, and in the last week they've shown how motivated they are to get involved in this effort to make sure it stays that way.”
Signature collection began in March. In order to place the constitutional amendment on the ballot, the coalition must collect 425,059 valid signatures of registered Michigan voters. The deadline for signature collection is July 11.
Reproductive Freedom for All is organized and supported by a growing coalition of Michigan advocates from Detroit to the Upper Peninsula and throughout the state. The campaign is led by ACLU of Michigan, Michigan Voices, and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan.
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