Outside of the Supreme Court on Wednesday, pro-abortion protesters allegedly ingested abortion pills as the court prepared to hear arguments over a case from Mississippi that could dramatically alter abortion in the United States.
As reported by Fox News, “At least four women were seen taking pills as others cheered. The group Shout Your Abortion did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment on the video and protest.”
According to a Twitter post with video by feminist writer Erin Matson on Wednesday, “people took abortion pills outside the Supreme Court!”
Matson called it “Epic action from [Shout Your Abortion].”
The video shows women taking pills and shouting, “Abortion pills forever!”
Epic action from @ShoutYrAbortion — people took abortion pills outside the Supreme Court! pic.twitter.com/kKditao6Xd
— Erin Matson (@erintothemax) December 1, 2021
Pro-life spokespersons have discussed the potential risks of the abortion pill in the past, especially when the pill is taken without a woman first being examined by a doctor. Access to the abortion pill through the mail and online delivery services has also raised red flags, as such availability could lead to abusers using the pills against victims of human trafficking.
Pro-life activists also came to the high court on Wednesday.
As Fox News’ Tyler Olson tweeted:
Among the chants from pro-lifers outside SCOTUS:
“We are the pro-life generation and we will abolish abortion.”
“Hey hey, ho ho, Roe v. Wade has got to go.”
Among the chants from pro-lifers outside SCOTUS:
“We are the pro-life generation and we will abolish abortion.”
“Hey hey, ho ho, Roe v. Wade has got to go.” pic.twitter.com/mcvI5A8IDk
— Tyler Olson (@TylerOlson1791) December 1, 2021
Among signs from pro-choice protesters:
“Abortion is healthcare”
“Abortion is essential” pic.twitter.com/tER3GlJBUD
— Tyler Olson (@TylerOlson1791) December 1, 2021
As reported by The Daily Wire, the Supreme Court on Wednesday is hearing arguments on a case out of Mississippi that could dramatically change the landscape of abortion in the country.
The case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, concerns a 2018 law in Mississippi that bans most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. As the law stands now, Roe v. Wade and the decisions that came after it hold that states have to allow a woman to be able to get an abortion up to the point of viability, or when the baby can survive on its own outside the womb. Most states hold this mark at around 20 to 24 weeks, so the Mississippi law is a direct violation.
Originally, Mississippi said in its petition that the questions presented to the Court do not require them to overturn Roe or Planned Parenthood v. Casey. In its brief in July, however, the state wrote, “Roe and Casey are egregiously wrong” and said the court should overrule those decisions.
Many are asking why this case in particular is so important and being watched so closely. It has to do with the Supreme Court and the question they plan to consider.
When the Supreme Court agreed to hear the Mississippi case, it said it would consider the question of “Whether all pre-viability prohibitions on elective abortions are unconstitutional,” meaning that with this decision, they could rule that states can make their own laws regarding abortion again — even possibly banning it up to the point of conception. The high court could give power back to the states to restrict abortion like they were able to do prior to the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling.
There are currently at least 21 states that have pro-life laws or constitutional amendments that would make almost all abortions in their states illegal if Roe is overturned.
There are an additional five states that would probably prohibit abortion as soon as they could. According to the Guttmacher Institute, these states include Florida, Indiana, Montana, Nebraska, and Wyoming.
This is considered to be the most conservative Supreme Court in decades and their decision will likely be announced next summer.
Justice Clarence Thomas is probably the most open about his opinions on Roe, as he has been very forthright about his stance against the decision in the past.
In a 2020 dissenting opinion, he wrote, “Our abortion precedents are grievously wrong and should be overruled.”
He went on to write: “The Constitution does not constrain the States’ ability to regulate or even prohibit abortion. This Court created the right to abortion based on an amorphous, unwritten right to privacy…”
As the longest-serving member of the court, Justice Thomas has long expressed his desire for Roe to be overturned. After arguments take place Wednesday, Justice Thomas might just witness the overturning of Roe v. Wade.