Notre Dame students join South Bend community to protest abortion pill distribution in their backyard
Members of NDRtL protested outside of a local CVS and Walgreens on Saturday, February 4, following an announcement that the stores would fill prescriptions for the abortion drug, mifepristone. The February 4 rally was part of a nationwide day of protest organized by Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising. A group of Notre Dame students demonstrated outside of Walgreens and CVS with posters asking the stores to “keep abortion out of pharmacies.” One representative from PAAU brought pamphlets from StopAbortionRx with information on further boycotts against the stores.
Mifepristone is used in conjunction with misoprostol to abort a pregnancy up to 10 weeks gestation. Mifepristone first blocks progesterone to starve an embryo of nutrients, then misoprostol induces contractions to expel the remains. These drugs have a 75% effectiveness rate.
Since 2020, abortion pills have accounted for more than half of all abortions performed in the United States. These pills were only available through doctors and a small number of clinics and mail-order pharmacies–until now.
Many students at the rally expressed their concerns about how the issue could affect college students. “I think it’s really important to raise awareness of the fact that this is happening on your average American street corner,”said Kylie Gallegos, a junior on the NDRtL executive board,“To see [abortion] bleeding over into public life in an easily accessible way without the necessary medical warnings…[and] the fact that girls could be hemorrhaging in their dorm rooms is a big problem,” Gallegos warned.
This January, the FDA finalized a rule to allow more retail pharmacies to fill prescriptions for mifepristone and misoprostol. The rule also permits women to receive prescriptions over the phone, rather than after an in-person appointment. Supporters of the change applaud the FDA and claim that it should do more to promote access to pharmaceutical abortifacients.
Pro-life groups, such as Live Action, have raised concerns about the safety of removing measures designed specifically to protect women. Such worries are not unfounded. In January, the FDA reported that “as of June 30, 2022, there were 28 reports of deaths in patients associated with mifepristone since the product was approved in September 2000.” As indicated on mifepristone’s label, many other serious side effects can occur, including sepsis and heavy bleeding.
Indiana State Legislature passed S.B.1, a near total abortion ban, but the courts granted an injunction against S.B.1 in September 2022, effectively restoring abortion access in Indiana. President of Notre Dame Right to Life Merlot Fogarty worries:“Even if we illegalize [operational] abortion in Indiana, students at Notre Dame can still drive 15 minutes to Michigan and get a pill…and without any follow-up afterward, it’s hard for us to ensure there are no complications and even know if it worked, which is really dangerous.”
Notre Dame students weren’t the only ones making their voices heard at the rally. Local South Bend teacher Emily Tyson shared, “I think it’s important to let CVS and Walgreens know that we don’t like what they are proposing to do,” Amy Nelson, another South Bend resident, expressed her dismay at the companies’ decision, stating, “I’m very strongly thinking of changing my pharmacy to one that is supportive of life.” PAUU has started a campaign to boycott these stores until they remove these drugs from their pharmacies.
Fortunately, the public backlash against CVS and Walgreens has already prompted local governments to respond. Just a few days before the rally, a group of 20 state attorney generals signed a letter showing intent to prosecute the pharmacies if they overstep their bounds. “We emphasize that it is our responsibility as State Attorney Generals to uphold the law and protect the health, safety, and well-being of women and unborn children in our states.” The letter continues, “Part of that responsibility includes ensuring that companies like yours are fully informed of the law so that harm does not come to our citizens.”
Those looking to get involved can sign Live Action’s petition urging pharmacies not to fill abortion pill prescriptions. More information on organizing rallies and boycotting CVS and Walgreens can be found at StopAbortionRx.com.
Haley Garecht is a freshman political science major who is currently mourning the Eagles’ Super Bowl loss. Please send condolences – and any questions, concerns, or comments – to hgarecht@nd.edu.