To: The Michigan State Senate and Governor Gretchen Whitmer
The War on Women Stops in Michigan
Tell Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and the Michigan Senate that House Bills 5711 - 5713 are harmful to the health of women, and silencing those that speak out against these bills is undemocratic.
Why is this important?
We were caught by surprise when we learned that "Super-Anti Abortion" bills from the Michigan House of Representatives were being fast tracked through a committee hearing and to voting on the floor. In just one week, House Bills 5711 - 5713 were approved by a committee that refused to hear testimony against the bills and made it to the floor of the Michigan House of Representatives.
The day that these bills were supposed to be voted on, Michigan women flooded their capital and made their voices heard. The impact was strong enough for the legislators to slate voting for another day. Two days later, HB 5711 was voted in. During this voting session, two representatives spoke out against the bill and found themselves prohibited from speaking during the next session, even on topics not pertaining to abortion or women's rights. This silenced not only these representatives, but also their constituents.
The women of Michigan will not be silent, despite the attempts of the bills' supporters to shut down dissenters. They spoke out again at the capital steps Monday, June 18 by hosting Eve Ensler and Michigan representatives that voted against these bills in a short notice, but heavily attended, rendition of the Vagina Monologues.
These bills are only the most recent of state government attacks on women's health and reproductive rights. They have been called the most restrictive anti-abortion bills yet, and they would effectively shut down the vast majority of abortion clinics in the state.
At each step, those that disagree with this set of bills have been silenced and ignored, but they are still shouting to make their voices heard. Please join us in telling the Governor of Michigan, Rick Snyder, and the Michigan Senate that attempting to silence the voices against these bills is undemocratic.
The day that these bills were supposed to be voted on, Michigan women flooded their capital and made their voices heard. The impact was strong enough for the legislators to slate voting for another day. Two days later, HB 5711 was voted in. During this voting session, two representatives spoke out against the bill and found themselves prohibited from speaking during the next session, even on topics not pertaining to abortion or women's rights. This silenced not only these representatives, but also their constituents.
The women of Michigan will not be silent, despite the attempts of the bills' supporters to shut down dissenters. They spoke out again at the capital steps Monday, June 18 by hosting Eve Ensler and Michigan representatives that voted against these bills in a short notice, but heavily attended, rendition of the Vagina Monologues.
These bills are only the most recent of state government attacks on women's health and reproductive rights. They have been called the most restrictive anti-abortion bills yet, and they would effectively shut down the vast majority of abortion clinics in the state.
At each step, those that disagree with this set of bills have been silenced and ignored, but they are still shouting to make their voices heard. Please join us in telling the Governor of Michigan, Rick Snyder, and the Michigan Senate that attempting to silence the voices against these bills is undemocratic.