The Wisconsin Supreme Court has struck down the state's 176-year-old abortion ban in a 4-3 decision. The 1849 law made it a felony for anyone other than the mother to end a pregnancy and had been in effect until the Roe versus Wade ruling in 1973.
As it stands now, women can seek abortions in Wisconsin until fetal viability, which can be as early as 21 weeks.
Behind this landmark decision are the stories of Wisconsin residents with deeply personal connections beyond political and policy debates.
Amillia 'Mia' Heredia grew up in Milwaukee with four older brothers and has been a longtime advocate for reproductive rights.
"I am pro choice. It really should be the choice of the person that has to make that choice between them and their doctor," Heredia said.
Heredia's connection to reproductive healthcare began early in her life.
Watch: Wisconsin Supreme Court’s liberal majority strikes down 176-year-old abortion ban
"I started using Planned Parenthood services when I was 14," Heredia said.
She explains that painful menstrual periods and mental health challenges led her to Planned Parenthood for healthcare services.
"Planned Parenthood specifically, has saved my life, time and time again, and so it's really important to me, when I'm sharing my story, to one, educate people about the various services that these different clinics have, but also the real life change I experienced" Heredia said.
Today, Heredia is pursuing a second master's degree while remaining active on issues that deeply matter to her. She has become what is known as a storyteller for Planned Parenthood and recently shared her experiences with senators in Washington, D.C.
"I would consider myself a grassroots activist. I would also consider myself just Mia from Milwaukee who is being directly impacted by the decisions that our senators and other senators for other states are making, and as me as their constituent, they should be concerned about the realities that I'm living and supporting all of their constituents," Heredia said.
On the other side of the debate is Tobey Neuberger, who also grew up in a large Wisconsin family.
"I grew up in a family of seven in nine years. So in a small town, the culture was just like abortion. I guess we were pro life family," Neuberger said.
Born a few years before the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling changed the abortion debate, Neuberger's views are grounded in her Catholic faith and family values.
"I mean, we're for life, but it's so much more than being for life or for a woman, you know, for the child, for the dad, or for the family, or for society or for the culture," Neuberger said.
Now a mother of six, Neuberger's pro-life journey has taken her to March for Life rallies in the nation's capital. The more she learned about the abortion movement at protests or marches, the more she wanted to get involved.
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"I would say it just enforced, like, alright, if I stay in pro life, I guess I have to do something about it. And that was it. It's hard," Neuberger said.
That something includes helping pregnant women. Neuberger is now planning to open a resource center in Ozaukee County called Lilies of Hope.
"It going to be a privacy resource center so that we can accompany and empower women and men, they're part of this conversation, with education, with resources, with support, Neuberger said. Lilies of hope is going to exist to say this might be hard, but it's worth it, and it's good. And nothing, nothing brings more joy than human life."
This story was reported on-air by Charles Benson and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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