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 protest was part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to host 50 protests in 50 states on one day. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Michigan state Rep. Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia) said Wednesday that she underwent surgery earlier this year to become voluntarily sterile out of fear for the future of reproductive health care access with President Donald Trump back in office.
“Just under two weeks ago, I underwent surgery to ensure that I would never have to navigate a pregnancy in Donald Trump’s America,” Pohutsky said. “I refuse to let my body be treated as currency by an administration that only sees value in my ability to procreate.
“If you know people who are questioning how serious this is, I’m going to repeat myself: A sitting government official opted for voluntary sterilization because she was uncertain she would be able to access contraception in the future.”
Pohutsky was speaking to hundreds of protesters who gathered Wednesday on the lawn of the Michigan Capitol as part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to hold 50 protests in 50 states on one day. Other demonstrations were held at state capitals in West Virginia, Georgia, Alaska, Arizona, Florida and Washington state.
Several Michigan protesters’ signs warned of fascism, Nazis and coups. While many signs criticized Trump, Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency were another popular target.
The event was briefly interrupted when state Rep. Matt Maddock (R-Millford), a longtime Trump ally, appeared near the Michigan Capitol’s steps.
“The only way to stop left-wing fascism is to stand up and confront left-wing fascists,” Maddock posted on social media.
Event organizers instructed the crowd to not engage with Maddock while he walked back through the middle of the audience and down the sidewalk.
Abdul El-Sayed, the director of the Wayne County Department of Health, Human and Veteran Services, who is reported exploring a run for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate in 2026, criticized the impact Trump’s funding freeze would have on services like health centers, the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program and mental health services.
“It’s about damn time that we showed up, stood up and took our government back,” said El-Sayed, who ran for governor as a Democrat in 2018.
The protest was one of the largest showings from Democrats since Trump regained control of the White House on Jan. 20. The People’s March, a progressive protest held at the Michigan Capitol before Trump’s inauguration, did not draw any Democratic state or federal officials.
Pohutsky said government officials need to similarly begin doing more to counter Trump.
“We need to demand that our elected officials at all levels stop pretending that this is politics as usual,” Pohutsky said. “It is beyond time that all elected officials force the issue instead of preemptively capitulating.”
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 protest was part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to host 50 protests in 50 states on one day. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
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 protest was part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to host 50 protests in 50 states on one day. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
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 protest was part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to host 50 protests in 50 states on one day. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
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 protest was part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to host 50 protests in 50 states on one day. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
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 protest was part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to host 50 protests in 50 states on one day. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
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 protest was part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to host 50 protests in 50 states on one day. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
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 protest was part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to host 50 protests in 50 states on one day. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
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 protest was part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to host 50 protests in 50 states on one day. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
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 protest was part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to host 50 protests in 50 states on one day. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
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 protest was part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to host 50 protests in 50 states on one day. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
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 protest was part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to host 50 protests in 50 states on one day. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
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 protest was part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to host 50 protests in 50 states on one day. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
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 protest was part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to host 50 protests in 50 states on one day. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
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 protest was part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to host 50 protests in 50 states on one day. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
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 protest was part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to host 50 protests in 50 states on one day. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
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 protest was part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to host 50 protests in 50 states on one day. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
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 protest was part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to host 50 protests in 50 states on one day. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
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 protest was part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to host 50 protests in 50 states on one day. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
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 protest was part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to host 50 protests in 50 states on one day. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
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 protest was part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to host 50 protests in 50 states on one day. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
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 protest was part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to host 50 protests in 50 states on one day. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
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 protest was part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to host 50 protests in 50 states on one day. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
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 protest was part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to host 50 protests in 50 states on one day. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
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 protest was part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to host 50 protests in 50 states on one day. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
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 protest was part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to host 50 protests in 50 states on one day. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
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 protest was part of the national “50501 Movement,” which aimed to host 50 protests in 50 states on one day. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
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