Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at Fountain Street Church Thursday to a crowd of invited guests as part of what she’s calling the “Fight for Reproductive Freedoms" tour.
In her Grand Rapids speech, she focused on how organizers, advocates, and elected leaders in states like Michigan have worked to protect reproductive rights since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, highlighting what she sees as the dangers of not doing so.
“Since that ruling came down, we have seen states across America – thankfully not Michigan – but states across our country proposing and passing laws that criminalize doctors and nurses – some provide for prison for life – for healthcare providers providing reproductive care for their patients. “
The visit comes in the midst of early voting in Michigan’s primary, and Harris emphasized the importance of the election in light of efforts to ban abortion nationally and to limit access to fertility treatments.
“So on one had the proponents are saying an individual doesn’t have the right to end an unwanted pregnancy and on the other hand an individual does not have the right to start a family.”
Harris also conducted a round table discussion on the issue with supporters and elected leaders including Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Senator Debbie Stabenow and Congresswoman Hillary Scholten.
