Hundreds attend abortion-rights rally at Michigan Capitol in wake of Supreme Court leak

LANSING — About 300 abortion-rights demonstrators rallied outside the Michigan Capitol in Lansing Tuesday evening.

The protest was sparked by a leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion authored by Associate Justice Samuel Alito that revealed the majority of justices supported overturning the Roe v. Wade decision. The move would allow individual states to enforce abortion laws currently deemed unconstitutional by Roe.

If Roe is overturned, an "archaic, backward" Michigan abortion law dating to 1931 would go back into effect, said Rep. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit. That law bans abortions for any reason other than saving the life of the pregnant person and does not contain exceptions for rape or incest.

The impact will be devastating, Chang said, and people of color would suffer the most.

"The gap between those with privilege and without privilege will only get wider," Chang said.

Christina Rissman drove with two friends from Madison Heights to attend the protest. An LGBTQ advocate, Rissman said she fears other rights could also be compromised if Roe v. Wade is overturned.

Abortion rights are "deeply personal" to many people across party lines, Rissman said.

Rissman's friend, Kortney Dennings, said she was struck by how fragile abortion rights are.

"It would be so easy for it to all be taken away," Dennings said.

More:

• Where Michigan stands on abortion if Roe v. Wade overturned by Supreme Court

• Whitmer: If Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, I'll fight for Michigan abortion rights

• What Michigan politicians are saying about Roe v. Wade leak, possible abortion ban

• Whitmer moves to protect Michigan abortion rights: 10 questions

About a dozen people with large anti-abortion signs arrived at the Capitol halfway through the rally. The abortion-rights demonstrators moved over to stand in front of them, blocking them with their own signs, umbrellas and bodies. After the official protest, a group of abortion-rights supporters surrounded the counter-protesters, chanting things like "pro-life is a lie, you don't care if women die."

One of the anti-abortion protesters, Jaryn Crouson, said she was there to advocate for the rights of unborn children.

"I think oftentimes our voices are misrepresented," Crouson said. "People don't realize the atrocity of abortion."

Collin Nayor, 19, and Joseph Allen, 20, said they attended the rally in support of women's right to an abortion.

"Our involvement is critical at this point," Allen said. "If (Roe v. Wade) is overturned and it becomes a state's issue, people have to get out and ensure the right people get elected."

Contact reporter Kara Berg at 517-377-1113 or kberg@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @karaberg95.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan abortion-rights rally: Hundreds gather at Capitol