By Alexa Cheaney
United States Vice President Kamala Harris made an appearance at Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids on Thursday, Feb. 22, a week before the state primary, on another stop on her “Fight for Reproductive Freedoms” tour.
This visit was a surprise to many Grand Rapids Community College students, as Grand Rapids Police were present on campus and students were not made aware of the vice president’s visit.
“Due to law enforcement security protocols, we were prohibited from disclosing any details regarding Vice President Harris’s visit,” stated Interim Vice President of College Advancement and Executive Director of the GRCC Foundation Erin Van Egmond.
In her fourth visit to the state since being elected, Harris, accompanied by various female leaders, including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Grand Rapids, emphasized that the fight for reproductive rights is far from over.
Harris shined light on what she characterized as a troubling reality in our country, without access to abortion women are suffering.
“Women have been having miscarriages in toilets in our country, have been denied access to emergency care because of what has been happening,” said Harris.
The state of Michigan passed Proposal 3 in June of 2022, following the overturn of the Supreme Court case Roe V. Wade, putting protection for abortion into Michigan’s state constitution.
“We did it, we got it into the state constitution protecting our freedom… and then we turn around and realize that literally all of this can be stripped away,” said U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow.
Reproductive rights remain on the ballot this election year, as it has come out that current Republican front-runner former President Donald Trump is in favor of a national 16-week abortion ban.
Alex Toren, President of the Democrats at GRCC, said he recognizes the importance that reproductive rights have played in driving voter turnout in recent election years.
“In 2022, we passed Proposal 3, which was a really huge turnout for voters,” Toren said. “…I think it sets a precedent for the importance that, especially young people, put on reproductive rights and their right to access an abortion when they need it. So placing that importance on that specific is what turned out voters in 2022 and I think it’s going to turn out voters again in 2024.”
Harris also commented on the recent Alabama Supreme Court ruling regarding In vitro fertilization (IVF) in juxtaposition to calls for a national abortion ban.
“Individuals, couples, who want to start a family are now being deprived of access to what can help them start a family,” Harris said. “So on one hand, the proponents are saying that an individual doesn’t have the right to end an unwanted pregnancy, and on the other hand the individual does not have the right to start a family.”
Here in Grand Rapids, protestors in support of the Make Birth Free movement, pro-life movement and those calling for a ceasefire in Gaza are gathered near campus, across the street from Fountain Street Church.
Thale Varana, an 80-year-old Cascade resident, came to campus with her husband to get the attention of the vice president with the call to action to mitigate the cost of birth. The Make Birth Free movement is a pro-life movement that aims to reduce abortions by taking away birth-related expenses.
“I think that because there is a huge percentage of people that have abortions is because of money. They can’t afford it,” Varana said. “I can tell you… it took us 10 years to pay off (one of our kids), so we understand what it’s like.”
Varana believes that respecting each other more would lead to a more peaceful world and that that respect should begin at birth.
“I think part of the problem with violence in our world today is that we don’t respect life enough, and I really believe that we could really put our hearts more into helping people instead of a violent way to solve problems,” Varana said.
Stephen Nylen, 36, of Grand Rapids, said he’s a street preacher who showed up to share a pro-life message.
“We can interpret different words differently, but you could say that we’re in that fight as well, right? For reproductive freedoms for the mom and the baby,” Nylen said. “We wanna speak on behalf of God for our unborn neighbors, and for our neighbors that are just here.”
While the conversation at Fountain Street Church centered around the fight for reproductive freedom, a small group showed up to express discontent with the Biden administration’s handling of the conflict in Gaza, urging voters to vote uncommitted.
“We are here to protest and make our voices heard. Make sure the presumptive democratic candidate (Joe Biden) with Harris (know) that we won’t be voting for you, we’ll be voting uncommitted,” said Christian Bartolo, 23, of Grand Rapids while protesting on the corner of Fountain Street and Ransom Avenue.
Kalamazoo native Marissa Wagner, 32, shared similar feelings toward the current vice president.
“The women in Palestine are facing reproductive genocide, and she’s here preaching about reproductive freedom. Which is important, but she completely ignores women in Palestine,” said Wagner.
During Thursday’s livestream of the event at Fountain Street Church, Democratic lawmakers kept the focus on continuing the fight to protect reproductive freedom in Michigan.
“One does not have to give up, or in any way abandon their faith, or deeply held beliefs, to agree the Government should not be telling her what to do with her body,” said Harris “If she chooses, she will consult with her priest, her pastor, her rabbi, her imam, it should not be the government telling people what to do with their bodies.”
Ahead of the presidential primary on Feb. 27, various other political figures will be coming to the state, including Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley here in Grand Rapids at the Amway Grand Plaza on Monday, Feb. 26.
Blace Carpenter, Payton Calati, James Herold, Lily Reed and Tommy Vo contributed to this story.
