A quaint hotel in Michigan is offering free accommodations to anyone who might be traveling to the state to receive an abortion.
“Dear sisters that live in Alabama, Ohio, Georgia, Arkansas, Missouri, or any of the other states that follow with similar laws restricting access [to abortion],” the hotel’s Facebook post begins. “We cannot do anything about the way you are being treated in your home-state. But, if you can make it to Michigan, we will support you with several nights lodging, and transportation to and from your appointment.”
The Yale Hotel, owned by Shelley O’Brien, is in the small town of Yale, Mich., which has a population of less than 2,000 people, as of the 2010 census. The town is perhaps most celebrated for its bologna.
Since having first announced its willingness to facilitate the abortions of out-of-state patrons, the hotel has received offers from people who are willing to offer transportation to women trying to get there. The room offered to them has been dubbed “Jane’s Room,” after Jane Roe from Roe v. Wade, according to CNN.
Jane Roe was the pseudonym of Norma McCorvey, who later became an anti-abortion activist.
“Since I posted this, I’ve received numbers of people willing to help drive you here,” O’Brien amended to the hotel’s original post, “and I’ve learned of organizations like Yellowhammerfund.org that have a network in place already to help with the many barriers to receiving safe and legal reproductive services. If you need help, please message me.”
O’Brien maintained that 25% of any increased revenue from her new policy will be donated to organizations like The Yellowhammer Fund, which endeavors to help women trying to get an abortion at one of Alabama’s three abortion clinics.
