Minnesotans Rally for Reproductive Freedom at the State Capitol
UnRestrict Minnesota holds lobby day as urgency grows to protect reproductive freedom in an era of extremism
March 23, 2026
(ST. PAUL, MN) — Today, Minnesotans from across the state rallied at the Capitol for Reproductive Freedom Lobby Day hosted by UnRestrict Minnesota. The event comes as the state is facing rising authoritarianism and extremism marked by continued attacks on abortion access, bodily autonomy, and the rights and safety of Minnesota immigrants.
“The attacks on reproductive freedom we’re seeing from the federal government are not isolated. They are part of a broader rise in authoritarianism that threatens all of our bodily autonomy,” said Megan Peterson, executive director of Gender Justice. “Minnesota has been a leader in protecting reproductive freedom, but we cannot take that for granted. Today we’re calling on lawmakers to put the Equal Rights Amendment on the ballot so the people can vote to enshrine our right to bodily autonomy in the state constitution, where it cannot be easily rolled back.”
UnRestrict Minnesota’s legislative agenda includes the Minnesota Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), limiting activity by federal agents in child care and health care facilities, and establishing a reproductive health equity grant to stabilize providers.
Under the Trump Administration, the federal government has taken steps to withhold Medicaid payments from abortion providers including Planned Parenthood. Federal funding freezes, continued attacks on reproductive freedom, and reimbursement rates are putting clinics at risk for closure. UnRestrict Minnesota is calling for reproductive health equity grants to prevent more clinics from closing and ensure that people of all incomes can get the care they need.
“Minnesota’s Legislature has made real progress protecting access to sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion and gender-affirming care. But protections only matter if clinics exist to provide care,” said Jill Collins Mattson, board chair at the Reproductive Health Alliance. “We’ve already lost a clinic due to low reimbursement rates, and we cannot allow that to happen again. Additional funding will allow our clinics to continue providing life-saving care to our communities.”
UnRestrict Minnesota was launched in 2019 to challenge the state’s anti-abortion laws, and protect, expand, and destigmatize access to abortion care and all reproductive health care. With over 30 organizational partners, the campaign has successfully repealed the vast majority of Minnesota’s restrictions on abortion and enshrined reproductive freedom, including abortion, in Minnesota law.
In previous legislative sessions, UnRestrict Minnesota has passed policies that have required private health insurance companies to provide abortion care, and strengthened protections to prevent out-of-state extremists from using out-of-state laws to attack people who travel to Minnesota for care and Minnesotans who seek, provide, or help someone get an abortion.
UnRestrict Minnesota is among the groups advocating for the Minnesota ERA to ensure equal rights under the law are protected–guaranteeing reproductive freedom– no matter who is in power at the Legislature or in the Governor’s office.
“Every Minnesotan deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and have the freedom to make their own healthcare decisions. While our state has made incredible progress in recent years, freedom and equality under the law cannot be taken for granted. This is particularly true as the federal government is actively trying to undermine reproductive freedom and rescind our basic rights—including the very existence of the trans community,” said Rep. Leigh Finke, Chair of the House Minnesota Reproductive Freedom Caucus. “Equal rights belong to all of us, and it’s time to put the Minnesota Equal Rights Amendment on the ballot once, and for all.”
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