At a recent gathering of Michigan college students and graduates, held in East Lansing, the conversation was heavy, filled with passion, urgency, and a determination to defend reproductive rights. On an ordinary Monday, it was a critical moment for young people to stand side by side with state Senator Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) and state Representative Julie Brixie (D-Meridian Township) to address what is at stake for reproductive freedom, not just in Michigan but nationwide.
Senator Anthony and Representative Brixie took the stage, not as distant political figures, but as allies in the fight to maintain and protect the hard-earned reproductive freedoms Michigan voters secured in 2022. They came with a message that was both sobering and motivating: the fight is far from over.
The backdrop to the event was former President Donald Trump’s recent announcement regarding Florida’s six-week abortion ban. Trump, known for shifting his stance on abortion, had initially criticized the six-week law but then stated he would vote to uphold it. Anthony was quick to point out the threat this poses nationally, emphasizing that no matter what protections Michigan currently has in place, they could easily be dismantled by federal laws.
Proposal 3, passed in 2022, enshrined abortion rights into Michigan’s Constitution, a monumental win for reproductive health advocates. Yet, the energy in the room was cautious—Brixie warned that this victory might be short-lived if a national abortion ban were to be enacted. “Even though we successfully codified our Reproductive Health Care Act here in Michigan last year, it’s still all at risk, because we could be subjected to federal law changes that would make abortion illegal,” Brixie said, her words echoing with the raw reality of what’s at stake. She reminded everyone in the room that the right to make decisions about one’s body was personal and fundamental: “And I don’t care what the reason is, because it’s none of my damn business why anybody wants to have an abortion.”
For those listening, the message was clear. The battle for reproductive rights isn’t isolated in Michigan, nor can anyone afford to become complacent. As Anthony noted, “What [Trump] is doing is empowering an extreme Supreme Court and endorsing extreme Republicans that are going to continue to try to nip away at our rights, even here in the state of Michigan, in which voters have made it clear that our reproductive health care is not up for discussion.” The Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade, is a looming reminder of how quickly rights can be stripped away.
While Trump continues to tout his role in reshaping the Supreme Court, which directly led to the end of Roe v. Wade, Vice President Kamala Harris remains steadfast in her support for reproductive rights, according to Brixie. The lawmakers also raised questions about Trump’s recent promise to make in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments free if re-elected. Given Trump’s unpredictable track record on reproductive rights, Anthony was skeptical, invoking her mother’s roots: “My mom is from Missouri, which is the ‘Show Me’ state. So you can say one thing, but then show me what you actually are doing.” Her words resonated, particularly with the young attendees who are now tasked with mobilizing their peers for the upcoming election.
As they shifted to discussions with students, the focus turned toward the need for more engagement from young voters. While the enthusiasm was evident, some students voiced concerns about the polarization they’ve seen on campus. Ruby Muehlenz, a freshman at Michigan State University’s James Madison College for public affairs and international relations, was one of those students. “One of the biggest things that we can do is genuinely just go have conversations with our friends,” Muehlenz said, emphasizing the importance of connecting across disciplines to foster a broader political conversation. She stressed the need for discussions not just among politically-minded students, but across campus, to demonstrate how these issues affect everyone’s lives, whether or not they’re aware of it.
This sentiment was echoed by Julia Walters, an MSU law student, who warned of the far-reaching implications of Trump’s potential return to power. Walters pointed to Project 2025, an extensive list of far-right policy proposals developed by the conservative Heritage Foundation. The project includes proposals that would revoke FDA approval for medication abortion drugs and enforce the 1873 Comstock Act, which could lead to a national abortion ban by restricting access to abortion medications. “Although in Michigan, we might feel safe right now because of all the work that was done to enshrine abortion rights into our Constitution, the reality is there are federal laws that exist, currently on the books, like the Comstock Act that can institute a national abortion ban,” Walters said. “And there are other things, other levers, that a potential Trump presidency could pull in order to make our reproductive freedoms limited or nonexistent.”
This stark warning hit home. The Heritage Foundation’s 900-page “Mandate for Leadership” outlines various proposals that could drastically alter reproductive health in the United States. Among them are calls to strip Planned Parenthood of Medicaid funding and remove emergency contraception from the Affordable Care Act’s contraception mandate. While Trump has attempted to distance himself from the project, it’s hard to ignore his ties to Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts. Trump and Roberts have a close relationship, having traveled together in 2022, and Roberts has been a vocal supporter of Trump’s policies.
As the event came to a close, the lawmakers and students made it clear that the fight for reproductive rights is far from over. The stakes have never been higher, and Michigan’s young voters are on the front lines. It’s not just about one election, or one law, but about protecting a fundamental human right that has come under attack.
For Anthony, Brixie, and the students who joined them, the message was simple: the fight is ongoing, and the power lies in their hands to protect the future of reproductive rights in Michigan and beyond. By staying informed, mobilizing peers, and showing up at the polls, they can continue to safeguard the progress that’s been made and prevent the erosion of their rights. This is the charge to young voters in Michigan: stay vigilant, stay informed, and stay engaged, because the fight for reproductive justice is far from over.
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