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Dear Michigander,

"Roe" v. "Wade" was decided in 1973, two years after I was born. For half a century, American women have had control over their own bodies. Now, we no longer do. My daughters and all our kids have fewer rights than many of us have had our entire lives.

A group of unelected, conservative judges have overturned "Roe" v. "Wade" and stripped reproductive rights from tens of millions of Americans. Millions of Americans ? our neighbors, family members, and friends ? are feeling despair in this moment. And while we were warned the decision was coming, it doesn?t make the news any less devastating.

With "Roe" gone, Michigan?s draconian 1931 law banning abortion even in the case of rape or incest and criminalizing doctors and nurses for providing that reproductive health care can take effect. For now, a Michigan court has put a temporary hold on the law [ [link removed] ], but the injunction has already been challenged by Republican leaders in the legislature, leaving us with no sense of permanency.

Under the 1931 law, health care professionals could be charged with a felony for performing an abortion and Planned Parenthood and independent health clinics in Michigan could be forced to close, denying women access to birth control, cancer screenings, and other lifesaving care. A group of Michigan legislators went even further, introducing a bill to enact a 10-year prison sentence for doctors and nurses and a 20-year sentence for anyone manufacturing, selling, or distributing birth control medication.

That?s why I filed a lawsuit in April to ask the Michigan Supreme Court to resolve whether Michigan?s constitution protects the right to an abortion.?And after the "Roe" decision was issued, I filed a motion urging the Supreme Court to immediately consider my lawsuit.

I have also issued an executive directive [ [link removed] ]?instructing State of Michigan departments and agencies to identify opportunities to improve protections for all forms of reproductive health care, such as contraception, long-acting reversible contraception, and emergency contraception. The executive directive also instructs departments not to cooperate with or assist authorities of any state in any proceeding or investigation against anyone for obtaining, providing or assisting someone else in obtaining or providing reproductive healthcare that is legal where the healthcare is provided.

However we personally feel about abortion, health ? not politics ? should drive important medical decisions. We need to trust women ? our friends, family, and neighbors ? to make the decisions that are best for them about their bodies and lives and keep politicians out of it.

No matter what happens from here, I am going to fight like hell to protect every Michigander?s right to make decisions about their own body. I am in this fight for my kids, our kids, and the future of our great state. I will not give in or give up ?and I know you won?t either. ?

Sincerely,

Governor Whitmer

Gretchen Whitmer
Governor of Michigan








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