Community, students, demonstrate for reproductive freedom

About 70 people gathered Saturday afternoon to march in support of reproductive freedom before the Supreme Court convenes on Oct. 4.

Many passing people shouted, honked their horn, or revved their engine, though whether they were in support of the marchers or not wasn’t always clear. Most passing motorists just looked on.

The group had broad representation across age and gender.

Audrey Gerard, a healthcare organizer with Michigan United (left), and Catherine Paavola, a resident of Pelkie, holding signs they carried across the bridge.

Gabriel Ahrendt, center in the orange vest, is a member of the Keweenaw Youth for Climate Action and came out to support another social movement. “We want to show the people of Copper Country that we care about reproductive rights,” he said.

Catherine Paavola grew up in Detroit and shared, “If abortion had been legal in ‘68, I would not have, as a teenager, had to travel to Mexico for an abortion. It has been legal for many years. It should remain legal.”

She said abortion is a private, healthcare issue.

She also thanked the others who showed up to the march and for the public’s attention to the issue.

Audrey Gerard, a healthcare organizer with Michigan United, thanked the people who worked together to organize the event. They included the League of Women Voters in Copper Country, Rise UP Keweenaw Chapter, Keweenaw Youth for Climate Action, and Michigan United.

Gabriel Ahrendt, a member of Keweenaw Youth for Climate Action, said the Keweenaw march was just one of the demonstrations happening across the country today, and that he came out to support reproductive rights for his friends impacted directly by abortion laws.

“I have a lot of friends who live in Texas,” Ahrendt said. “… We don’t want that to happen here in Michigan.”