By Mackenzie Davis
Abortion rights can seem like a black and white decision, but recent government restrictions to reproductive health care have created challenges for all women, regardless of their pro-life or pro-choice beliefs.
Michigan belongs to the group of states in America where abortion rights are protected after the overturn of Roe vs. Wade by the U.S. Supreme court in 2022. Following this decision, protestors have flocked the streets from both sides and social media has blown up with horror stories of women being detained hours to days after losing their child to miscarriage. With so many laws in each state and unreliable information online, what are the laws on getting an abortion and are women really being put in jail for circumstances they can’t control?
Guttmacher Institute, which follows up to date policies and research on abortion, contains seven categories for states and their abortion laws. Ranging from most protective to most restrictive this map shares where states fall. Details of these categories are listed below.
Although Michigan falls under the “very protective” category, where the state is said to provide protections against harassment and physical harm for people entering abortion clinics, protesters still stand outside them. On May 28, an article from the The Michigan Independent reported on the lack of safety that was provided to abortion providers and patients before The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act that was enacted by the federal government in 1994. The article references the CEO of the Northland Family Planning Center, Renee Chelian, who has been providing abortion care for 50 years and talks about the harassment before the FACE Act was implemented.
“During that time, she says, anti-abortion groups have harmed and harassed her, as well as her staff, patients and family,” wrote author Aylssa Burr, “with constant threats of violence, including large blockades, arson attempts, and even death threats.”
Even after the passing of this act, protestors in 2020 blocked patients from getting into Chelian’s Northland Center, in Sterling Heights. The patients were reported to have gone to the center to get abortions due to the detection of fetal anomalies. One woman needing immediate medical care was stuck in her car with her family as people shouted and the car was covered with pictures of unborn fetuses.
In January, Trump went on to pardon the offenders found guilty of this crime.
Legislation to repeal the FACE Act— protections now move through the House of Representatives. If followed through, protesters would be able to block off access to clinics with very little consequences and patients’ and providers’ safety could become a concern.
In a press release in March, Michigan senator Mallory McMorrow introduced bills 154-155, which “would make it a criminal offense to interfere with access to a health facility that provides reproductive health services.” This could protect providers and clients if the FACE Act were to be repealed.
Coordinator of Gender Studies and an assistant professor at Grand Rapids Community College, Emily Pain, shared in an email to The Collegiate how these decisions by the government have impacted the atmosphere in her class and for college students.
“In terms of academics it’s broadened my students’ interest in thinking more critically about ‘reproductive rights’ such as with the more expansive human rights framework of the reproductive justice movement or with a focus on concepts related to the institution of the state.” Pain wrote. “In terms of emotions, the Supreme Court decision has been a source of grief, concern, and anger for many of my students. However, it also (has) energized students to be more involved, such as by voting in local, state, and national elections, participating in social movements, or educating their friends, peers, and family.”
Michigan, as a protected state, provides access through qualified healthcare providers including doctors, nurses and specialized clinics. Variations of services are offered at different clinics and can be found on the clinics website. Michigan law does not contain a gestational limit, but abortion providers may restrict their services after certain limits. Abortion Finder allows for women to search for certified clinics closest to them throughout the country to find these services.
Other services are usually offered at these clinics. For example, Planned Parenthood offers check-ups, STD testing, telehealth and access to contraceptives.
Laws in Michigan require minors and their legal guardians to sign a consent waiver for abortion procedures. Michigan One Court of Justice offers more information for this instance.
Reproductive health educator, content creator and former OB-GYN Physician assistant, Nikki Sapiro Vinckier, exhibits that even if Michigan’s laws protect the right to abortions, the fight is still not over.
“Dobbs didn’t just overturn Roe—it cracked open the door for politicians to interfere in our most personal, private decisions,” Vinckier wrote. “It’s not just about abortion (though that alone should be enough). It’s about miscarriage care. Fertility treatment. Birth control. Even your right to emergency care. What the Dobbs decision showed us is that they’re willing to lie, legislate, and bulldoze over science to push an agenda. And we’re not imagining it—this is a coordinated effort to control bodies, especially those most marginalized. But here’s the thing: we’re not powerless. We can push back—and we are.”
When asked what she thought the most important thing women could do right now, she emphasized the power of knowledge.
“We have to stay loud and stay linked. That means knowing your rights and sharing that knowledge with your people,” Vinckier wrote. “Whether it’s helping a friend find accurate birth control info, showing up at the polls, or calling out disinformation online—every single action matters. And we can’t wait for someone else to come save us. We are the safety net. We are the system now. The more we talk about this—openly, urgently, and often—the stronger we get.”
Vinckier’s Instagram contains more of her story and work toward equality.
Other states in the U.S. do not afford their citizens these rights. Out of our 50 states, 13 have total abortion bans and 28 states have bans based on gestational duration. Stories from women being arrested, almost dying and being harassed have sparked questions on how protected women really are in the healthcare industry.
Amanda Zurawski’s story on Center for Reproductive Rights shares the danger that these bans can cause. Zurawski’s water broke prematurely leaving the fetus with no chance of survival. After being denied abortion care, she experienced a sepsis-infection that was life-threatening. This infection closed one of her fallopian tubes jeopardizing her future efforts to have children.
Her story is just one in a sea of women who have been denied access to healthcare when they needed it the most. Although information online is not always an accurate source of information, these stories cannot be discredited, as they rest in the truth of the continuous lawsuits that are being filed in these states that are limiting their people’s rights.
Although the state of Michigan allows the freedom of abortions and freedom to access healthcare, no liberty can truly exist until every person can access these rights..
College students may feel that it is hard to make a difference in their busy lives, but Vinckier argues any little action can help.
“For too long, abortion has been framed as a “women’s issue”—when in reality, it affects everyone. Whether you can get pregnant or not, the right to bodily autonomy is foundational. And reproductive healthcare—like birth control, IVF, abortion—is tied to our futures, our relationships, and our freedom,” wrote Vinckier. “For college students, this stuff can feel overwhelming. You’re juggling classes, jobs, student loans—and now you’re supposed to be tracking legal battles in 50 states? It’s a lot. But here’s the hope: your voice matters. Your vote matters. And this generation? You all are already showing up in ways that are changing the game. Keep learning. Keep speaking out. Keep organizing. You have more power than you’ve been told—and we’re fighting alongside you.”
