the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
Oct 10, 2022
In Michigan, the November 8 election offers the chance to vote yes on Proposal 3, which aims to restore abortion rights lost when Roe v. Wade was struck down. This proposed constitutional amendment would keep abortion legal and establish a right for individuals to make their own reproductive healthcare choices.
The reproductive healthcare choices being voted on are listed on the ballot. The proposal calls for the individual to decide about pregnancy, prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, contraception, sterilization, abortion, miscarriage management and infertility.
In Michigan, Proposal 3 almost did not make the ballot. Big money attempted to block it. Now a coalition of conservative religious groups and far right legal organizations are funding attack ads claiming Proposal 3 is “confusing”. It’s the dishonest attack ads that are confusing!
In reality, if Proposal 3 passes, this will be only the beginning of a longer struggle for reproductive rights. The non-partisan Michigan Citizens Research Council explains, “The proposal, if adopted, has the potential to impact several existing Michigan laws and is likely to be challenged on many dimensions in the courts for years to come.”
A late September Detroit News poll of likely voters showed 61% support Proposal 3. A near majority of people who say they “lean Republican” even support Proposal 3.
Yet if Proposal 3 does pass, no one should believe it will guarantee the right to reproductive freedom. Having the Roe Supreme Court decision of 1973 did not guarantee THAT right. To guarantee a right, always takes a fight. A law on the books about rights is only as strong as the population mobilized to defend those rights.
In Michigan, Proposal 3 got on the ballot because of the power of the people who mobilized. Outraged over the fall of Roe, close to 30,000 people volunteered to collect signatures. The number of signatures collected was more than for any ballot initiative in state history! Whether Proposal 3 passes or not, this same power of people organized will be needed after election day to make sure reproductive freedom for all is implemented!