(WWJ) -- The Supreme Court of the United States struck down Roe v. Wade Friday morning and Michigan Democrats are sharing their reactions to this landmark decision.
A protest has already been planned in Detroit, as well. At 5 p.m. there will be a rally and march for abortion rights at the Levin Courthouse, located in the 230 block of West Lafayette Boulevard.
“With today's decision, Michigan's antiquated 1931 law banning abortion without exceptions for rape or incest and criminalizing doctors and nurses who provide reproductive care takes effect," said Whitmer.
For now, a Michigan court has put a temporary hold on the law, but Whitmer said that decision is not final and has already been challenged.
Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist said that Friday is a "tragic" day for Americans as well as Michiganders.
"Against medical expertise and the overwhelming majority of Americans who support this constitutional right, a group of conservative judges we did not elect have stripped access to reproductive healthcare from tens of millions of Americans," said Gilchrist. "We can all sense the hopelessness and despair that our neighbors, family, and friends are feeling right now."
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Michigan's Attorney General Dana Nessel said that Americans will lose a fundamental right they've had for nearly her entire lifetime. Nessel said by overturning Roe v. Wade, lgbt+ rights could be at risk.
"It's important to acknowledge the risk the Dobbs decision poses toward other fundamental rights like marriage equality, or even consensual sex deemed 'sodomy' under MI law," said Nessel. "Once we start eviscerating 14th Amendment rights, I don't see how to separate them."
Nessel also added that people can expect to see an escalation of domestic violence cases and domestic homicides as a result of the ruling.
"The impact of today’s ruling cannot be overstated. It claws back the hard-won agency women have over their bodies and lives, and it eliminates settled law relied upon by generations of Americans," said Nessel.
Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan's Chief Medical Executive said she is concerned about how this decision will negatively impact health outcomes for women and children, particularly women and children of color, as "they have greater disparities in health outcomes in general."
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“Decisions about whether to end or continue a pregnancy should be made by a woman with the counsel of her family, her faith and her doctor – not politics," said Dr. Bagdasarian. "As a physician, I know that the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States to overturn nearly half a century of precedent protecting safe, legal abortion violates the trusted relationship between a patient and their doctor."
Dr. Bagdasarian said if women and doctors are "under threat" of prosecution and jail time due to Michigan's abortion ban, women will have a more difficult time accessing "critical" health care.
"And with abortion not legally available, women are more likely to undergo unregulated procedures that can jeopardize their future reproductive health and in some cases be life-threatening," said Dr. Bagdasarian.
Rep. Brenda Lawrence spoke out saying this is a "dark" day for America.
“Never in my life did I think I would see Roe v. Wade being struck down," said Lawrence. "This misguided and dangerous Supreme Court decision, overturning nearly 50 years of precedent, will harm women and families in Michigan and across the country."
Lawrence said abortion care is a human right, but with this decision, she said several states are set to enact "deadly" abortion bans.
"Today, our country is moving backwards, reproductive rights are being undermined, and women’s rights are being rolled back significantly," said Lawrence.
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Renee Chelian, the president and CEO of the Northland Family Planning Center said that abortion is still legal and they are still open and taking care of patients like they always have. She said patients do not need to be scared today.
Congressman Andy Levin said this news has "outraged" him.
“This extremist Supreme Court has struck down one of the most important freedoms in this country—the right to an abortion," said Levin. "Simply put, this represents a total and blatant violation of human rights and further delegitimatizes the highest court in the land. I refuse to accept a future where my 17-year-old daughter cannot access reproductive health care freely."
Levin said the Supreme Court revealed their "hostility" to many existing rights and called into question the progress already made in this country.
"This is about control by a small group of hyper-conservative, unaccountable Justices contravening the will of the public to strip away rights and harm communities en masse," said Levin.
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Rep. Darrin Camilleri said Friday is an infuriating and devastating day for the country and the right to privacy.
“This clearly political court has dismantled the nearly 50-year legal precedent for women to have control over their own bodies – and we know that this will not end abortions, only safe abortions," said Camilleri.
Abortion is still legal in Michigan due to an injunction that temporarily blocks the 1931 ban on abortion.
