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Statement

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Ruling on Mifepristone Is Another Outrageous Blow to Access to Reproductive Health Care

August 16, 2023
Reproductive Justice

Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996

Statement of leaders of MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling today limiting access to mifepristone, which is used in medication abortion:

“While mifepristone remains available in the United States, it is disgraceful that another conservative court today ruled to limit access to a medication that has been used safely in this country for more than 20 years. The ruling today won’t change access right now; the case now goes to the U.S. Supreme Court. But no court should restrict access to an FDA-approved medication that has been proven safer than penicillin, Tylenol, and Viagra; and is the only option many of us have left for abortion.

“Any suggestion that concerns about women’s health or FDA procedures motivated today’s decision is absurd. This is, quite simply, another outrageous attack on our basic right to make our own decisions about whether and when to have children. Restrictions on medication abortion are without merit and deeply harmful. Moms are counting on the U.S. Supreme Court to overrule this decision.”

-Statement of Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director and CEO, MomsRising

“Attacks on our access to mifepristone have intensified the massive hardship SCOTUS caused with its ruling in Dobbs last summer. Moms, women of color, low-income women, young, rural and immigrant women, people with disabilities, and those who are LGBTQIA+ are suffering the most. Most people who have abortions are moms, and moms want abortion care to be accessible to all who need it, regardless of where they live, their financial status, or the source of their health coverage. Being able to choose if we have children, and if so, when and how many children to have, which includes access to abortion care, is a fundamental right.

“America’s moms are counting on the Biden/Harris administration to continue fighting for our health and autonomy. We will remain in this fight for as long as our access to reproductive health care is threatened or denied. Reproductive rights are human rights. Denials of safe medications and other health care, and forced births, are never okay. This must not stand.”

-Statement of Diarra Aida Diouf, Campaign Director, Maternal Justice, Reproductive Justice, & Youth Justice, MomsRising

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, stop discrimination against women and moms, and build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: www.MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.