Michigan legislator says she underwent sterilization to avoid pregnancy during Trump presidency

By: Eliot Pierce

Sharing is caring!

State Representative Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia) of Michigan stated on Wednesday that she had surgery earlier this year to become voluntarily infertile because she was afraid of what would happen to access to reproductive health care now that President Donald Trump is back in power.

Pohutsky stated, “I had surgery just under two weeks ago to make sure I would never have to deal with a pregnancy in Donald Trump’s America.” I will not allow my body to be used as money by a government that values my ability to have children.

I’ll say it again if you know anyone who is wondering how serious this is: Because she was unsure about her future access to contraception, a current government official chose to voluntarily undergo sterilization.

As part of the nationwide 50501 Movement, which sought to stage 50 protests in 50 states in a single day, Pohutsky was addressing hundreds of demonstrators who had assembled on the Michigan Capitol’s grounds on Wednesday. State capitals in West Virginia, Georgia, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, and Washington State had more protests.

Signs held by a number of demonstrators in Michigan warned of fascism, Nazis, and coups. Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency were another popular target, despite the fact that many signs attacked Trump.

State Representative Matt Maddock (R-Millford), a longstanding Trump admirer, temporarily interrupted the celebration by showing up close to the steps of the Michigan Capitol.

Maddock wrote on social media that confronting left-wing fascists is the only way to end their ideology.

As Maddock made his way back through the center of the throng and down the sidewalk, event organizers told the audience not to interact with him.

Trump’s funding freeze would affect services like health centers, the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, and mental health services, according to Abdul El-Sayed, director of the Wayne County Department of Health, Human, and Veteran Services, who is reportedly considering a run for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat in 2026.

When El-Sayed, a Democrat who ran for governor in 2018, said, “It’s about damn time that we showed up, stood up, and took our government back.”

The demonstration was among the biggest Democratic turnouts since Trump took back the White House on January 20.No Democratic state or federal officials attended the People’s March, a progressive demonstration that took place at the Michigan Capitol before to Trump’s inauguration.

According to Pohutsky, political representatives must also start taking greater action against Trump.

According to Pohutsky, we must insist that all levels of our elected representatives cease acting as though this is just another typical political scenario. It is past time for all elected authorities to take action rather than acquiesce in advance.

On February 5, 2025, hundreds of people demonstrate against the activities of President Donald Trump during his first two weeks in office on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. The demonstration was a component of the nationwide “50501 Movement,” which sought to hold 50 demonstrations across 50 states in a single day. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)

On February 5, 2025, hundreds of people demonstrate against the activities of President Donald Trump during his first two weeks in office on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. The demonstration was a component of the nationwide “50501 Movement,” which sought to hold 50 demonstrations across 50 states in a single day. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)

On February 5, 2025, hundreds of people demonstrate against the activities of President Donald Trump during his first two weeks in office on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. The demonstration was a component of the nationwide “50501 Movement,” which sought to hold 50 demonstrations across 50 states in a single day. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)

On February 5, 2025, hundreds of people demonstrate against the activities of President Donald Trump during his first two weeks in office on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. The demonstration was a component of the nationwide “50501 Movement,” which sought to hold 50 demonstrations across 50 states in a single day. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)

On February 5, 2025, hundreds of people demonstrate against the activities of President Donald Trump during his first two weeks in office on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. The demonstration was a component of the nationwide “50501 Movement,” which sought to hold 50 demonstrations across 50 states in a single day. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)

Gibby Trejo holds a Mexican flag as hundreds of people gather on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Mich., on Feb. 5, 2025, to protest actions taken by President Donald Trump during hsi first two weeks in office. The demonstration was a component of the nationwide “50501 Movement,” which sought to hold 50 demonstrations across 50 states in a single day. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)

On February 5, 2025, hundreds of people demonstrate against the activities of President Donald Trump during his first two weeks in office on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. The demonstration was a component of the nationwide “50501 Movement,” which sought to hold 50 demonstrations across 50 states in a single day. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)

On February 5, 2025, hundreds of people demonstrate against the activities of President Donald Trump during his first two weeks in office on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. The demonstration was a component of the nationwide “50501 Movement,” which sought to hold 50 demonstrations across 50 states in a single day. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)

Michigan state Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, D-Livonia, speaks as hundreds of people gather on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Mich., on Feb. 5, 2025, to protest actions taken by President Donald Trump during hsi first two weeks in office. The demonstration was a component of the nationwide “50501 Movement,” which sought to hold 50 demonstrations across 50 states in a single day. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)

Michigan state Rep. Matt Maddock (R-Millford) walks through the crowd as hundreds of people gather on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Mich., on Feb. 5, 2025, to protest actions taken by President Donald Trump during hsi first two weeks in office. The demonstration was a component of the nationwide “50501 Movement,” which sought to hold 50 demonstrations across 50 states in a single day. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)

Michigan state Rep. Matt Maddock (R-Millford) walks through the crowd as hundreds of people gather on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Mich., on Feb. 5, 2025, to protest actions taken by President Donald Trump during hsi first two weeks in office. The demonstration was a component of the nationwide “50501 Movement,” which sought to hold 50 demonstrations across 50 states in a single day. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)

On February 5, 2025, hundreds of people demonstrate against the activities of President Donald Trump during his first two weeks in office on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. The demonstration was a component of the nationwide “50501 Movement,” which sought to hold 50 demonstrations across 50 states in a single day. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)

On February 5, 2025, hundreds of people demonstrate against the activities of President Donald Trump during his first two weeks in office on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. The demonstration was a component of the nationwide “50501 Movement,” which sought to hold 50 demonstrations across 50 states in a single day. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)

Michigan state Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, D-Livonia, speaks as hundreds of people gather on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Mich., on Feb. 5, 2025, to protest actions taken by President Donald Trump during hsi first two weeks in office. The demonstration was a component of the nationwide “50501 Movement,” which sought to hold 50 demonstrations across 50 states in a single day. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)

On February 5, 2025, hundreds of people demonstrate against the activities of President Donald Trump during his first two weeks in office on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. The demonstration was a component of the nationwide “50501 Movement,” which sought to hold 50 demonstrations across 50 states in a single day. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)

On February 5, 2025, hundreds of people demonstrate against the activities of President Donald Trump during his first two weeks in office on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. The demonstration was a component of the nationwide “50501 Movement,” which sought to hold 50 demonstrations across 50 states in a single day. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)

On February 5, 2025, hundreds of people demonstrate against the activities of President Donald Trump during his first two weeks in office on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. The demonstration was a component of the nationwide “50501 Movement,” which sought to hold 50 demonstrations across 50 states in a single day. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)

On February 5, 2025, hundreds of people demonstrate against the activities of President Donald Trump during his first two weeks in office on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. The demonstration was a component of the nationwide “50501 Movement,” which sought to hold 50 demonstrations across 50 states in a single day. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)

Michigan state Rep. Carrie Rheingans, D-Ann Arbor, speaks as hundreds of people gather on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Mich., on Feb. 5, 2025, to protest actions taken by President Donald Trump during hsi first two weeks in office. The demonstration was a component of the nationwide “50501 Movement,” which sought to hold 50 demonstrations across 50 states in a single day. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)

On February 5, 2025, hundreds of people demonstrate against the activities of President Donald Trump during his first two weeks in office on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. The demonstration was a component of the nationwide “50501 Movement,” which sought to hold 50 demonstrations across 50 states in a single day. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)

On February 5, 2025, hundreds of people demonstrate against the activities of President Donald Trump during his first two weeks in office on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. The demonstration was a component of the nationwide “50501 Movement,” which sought to hold 50 demonstrations across 50 states in a single day. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)

Gibby Trejo holds a Mexican flag as hundreds of people gather on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Mich., on Feb. 5, 2025, to protest actions taken by President Donald Trump during hsi first two weeks in office. The demonstration was a component of the nationwide “50501 Movement,” which sought to hold 50 demonstrations across 50 states in a single day. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)

On February 5, 2025, hundreds of people demonstrate against the activities of President Donald Trump during his first two weeks in office on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. The demonstration was a component of the nationwide “50501 Movement,” which sought to hold 50 demonstrations across 50 states in a single day. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)

On February 5, 2025, hundreds of people demonstrate against the activities of President Donald Trump during his first two weeks in office on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. The demonstration was a component of the nationwide “50501 Movement,” which sought to hold 50 demonstrations across 50 states in a single day. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)

On February 5, 2025, hundreds of people demonstrate against the activities of President Donald Trump during his first two weeks in office on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. The demonstration was a component of the nationwide “50501 Movement,” which sought to hold 50 demonstrations across 50 states in a single day. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)

On February 5, 2025, hundreds of people demonstrate against the activities of President Donald Trump during his first two weeks in office on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. The demonstration was a component of the nationwide “50501 Movement,” which sought to hold 50 demonstrations across 50 states in a single day. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)

YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE.

Leave a Comment