Protesters line up to support abortion rights at 'emergency rally' in Port Huron

It started with just a few individuals holding signs up to passing cars on Friday.

But within a half-hour, nearly two dozen protesters had shown up to the last-minute push to show support for reproductive rights at the southwest corner of Pine Grove Park.

The St. Clair County Democrats launched the call for an “emergency rally” midday in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade and the constitutional right to abortions, and organizers said they hoped more would show as the evening wore on.

“They’ve only had a couple hours’ notice, so some of them might be late. … How many people look at their email during the day? Until they get home?” said Port Huron resident Carolyn Holley.

She inquired about quickly pulling the rally together with another member who also chairs special events before arriving at the park with a sign that said, “We won’t go back,” with the outline of a clothes hanger.

Active with the local party at age 83, Holley said she remembered fighting for Roe in the 1970s.

“I thought it was good. I thought it was going to be there,” she said. 

The SCOTUS decision was one that organizers said they saw coming after a leaked court opinion this spring. But while Friday’s 6-3 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health decision ultimately leaves the question to fall to state legislators, abortion is still legal in Michigan. A 1931 Michigan law makes it illegal, but a judge has issued an injunction as lawsuits over the issue proceed in court.

"Abortion doesn’t go away because they outlaw it. It becomes illegal, but it never goes away," Holley said. 

Protesters look to 'show up, show out' at Dems' event

Jaden Walker, 18, of Port Huron, also held up a sign Friday as traffic zoomed by in a parade of periodic horn-honking.

She’s been at local protests before, she said. But this time, she thought it was important to act fast, adding, “It’s kind of sad having my rights being taken away. Nothing I can really do about it except vote, show up, show out.”

David Clive, a local native who lives in Lansing, was in a Port Huron visiting family when he heard about the local rally. He said it was important to show support.

“I think that Port Huron – well, more St. Clair County, in general – is a relatively red area. So, I think anyone that comes out to support stuff like this build solidarity within, you know? That sort of leftist community. And shows other folks on the left in this area that they’re not alone. Especially women, especially people of color, especially people who aren’t White men.”

Off at a nearby picnic table, resident Jody Parmann prepared signs for the protest with daughter and son Eloise and Judah Hossain, ages 6 and 10.

“I just live over across the way, so the park’s right by my house,” Parmann said. “I got the kids from camp and came over here.”

One of their signs included the phrase, “My body, my choice.” Outlined in black marker, it sat by Eloise, who said of the sign: “It says every girl can do what they want!”

“I have a daughter, and I want her to have the same freedoms that I had. And I am concerned that she won’t. So, I talked to my kids about (it),” Parmann said, turning to Eloise. “Listen, we are going to fight. That’s what the goal is – that we’re going to fight for our freedoms, right? We have control. We can fight.”

Protests were held across Michigan Friday evening, including in Lansing, Detroit, Ann Arbor and other cities.

Contact Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @Jackie20Smith.