As a ban on the abortion pill looms, twenty Democratic governors announce the formation of an alliance to safeguard reproductive rights.
According to the statement, the group will strive “to strengthen reproductive freedom in the face of an unparalleled onslaught on abortion access and other types of reproductive health care by states hostile to abortion rights and judges promoting their ideological agenda.”
The Alliance describes itself as nonpartisan and encourages all governors who favor reproductive freedom to join the alliance, but to date, only Democrats have accepted the invitation.
In the coming weeks, a federal court in Texas is set to rule on a case attempting to outlaw the use of abortion drugs. In November 2012, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a Christian conservative legal advocacy group, filed a lawsuit seeking to rescind the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of mifepristone, the first pill in a two-dose abortion method.
According to experts, the verdict in favor of the plaintiffs might result in a nationwide ban on mifepristone, even in areas where abortion is legal. On Tuesday, Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk denied the groups’ request to bypass a hearing on whether to temporarily block sales of the drug until the matter is heard in its entirety and instead proceed directly to trial.
Reuters reported that the Biden administration also opposed the request. State attorneys general have also filed briefs, with Democrats opposing the lawsuit and Republicans in favor of it.
Increased demand for pharmaceutical abortion in the United States. According to the Guttmacher Institute, by 2020, it will account for more over half (54%) of all abortions, a considerable increase from 39% in 2017. According to research, pharmaceutical abortion is safe and successful 95 percent of the time.
According to Reuters, West Virginia, and North Carolina have filed lawsuits attempting to widen access to mifepristone by contending that state limitations violate with federal law.
Governor Maura Healey of Massachusetts, a member of the Reproductive Freedom Alliance, says: “Governors have a special responsibility and opportunity to enhance reproductive freedom in our states at this time when abortion access is under danger across the nation.
I am delighted to join with my colleagues to send the message that we are not merely playing defense but are aggressively advancing access to abortion and reproductive health care.”
