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Family says Michigan mom jailed 'out of spite' for not vaccinating son

Posted at 5:15 PM, Oct 04, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-04 19:24:14-04

Rebecca Bredow is behind bars in Oakland County, Michigan jail after she refused to obey a court order to vaccinate her child. A judge called her out and ordered that she spend a week in jail.

The court battle began when Bredow refused to vaccinate their son when her ex-husband wanted to. Bredow’s family and attorney feel the judge ruled this to prove a point. "You repeatedly stated over the past several days publicly that you will not follow this court order so I'm sentencing you up to seven days in jail,” the judge said.

Protestors supporting Bredow showed up at the courthouse. They are outraged after the judge’s decision.

"This has got to stop at our bodies, our choice, our children, our choice," says Tasha Schurgin.

"Medicine is not one-size-fits-all and that's what they're trying to do with vaccines,” says protestor Gretchen Perry-Emery. Even Rebecca’s current husband spoke about the jail order.  

"I think it's horrific a worst-case scenario,” Gary Bredow said. The judge explained that Rebecca agreed to vaccinate her child as part of the custody order. Bredow claimed she and her ex later changed their mind, but the judge wasn’t buying it.

"It's vaccine-choice parents that do the research and understand why their vaccination and we're not anti-vaccine. Why hold her in criminal contempt? I think this is spite,” Rebecca’s husband says. Rebecca and her attorney plan to appeal the decision.

In the meantime, her ex-husband has temporary custody and will be able to get those vaccinations.