Dear John,
Once again, our rights and bodily autonomy are in the hands of the right-wing-packed Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has recently heard oral arguments on access to mifepristone–the FDA-approved, safe, and effective abortion pill.1 And two of the court's most conservative, anti-abortion judges referenced the Comstock Act, a 150-year-old, sexist, invasive, and dormant law—that is, tragically, still on the books—in their questions, a sign that they are looking for opportunities to turn back the clock a century and a half.2
This is the same Supreme Court that overturned Roe v. Wade just two years ago. And although there have been reports of justices seeming skeptical about restricting access to mifepristone, we should be alarmed: Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas referenced the Comstock Act of 1873 during the oral arguments.3
The Comstock Act—if enforced—is a law that prohibits the mailing of contraceptives through the mail.4 If the Republican Party wins the presidency this November, Donald Trump could enforce this law, which is still on the books—and therefore restrict access to medication abortion as well as other contraceptives. That's right: It's a back door to an abortion ban—as well as an attack on birth control, which the right wing has its targets set on—and the Supreme Court is handing Donald Trump the key. We need to act now, while we can, to make sure we aren't subject to the whims of an ancient, sexist law, a maniacal president, and a regressive Supreme Court.
Will you sign the petition demanding that the Comstock Act be repealed NOW?
Anti-abortion extremists are willing to go to any length to strip away our rights and access to reproductive health. From Roe v. Wade to IVF to mifepristone, the right wing will stop at nothing to implement a nationwide abortion ban.
The Comstock Act states that "every article or thing designed, adapted, or intended for producing abortion" is "nonmailable." Medication abortion accounted for 63% of all abortion care in 2023.5
The act was also an obstacle to birth control for many years—something that many conservatives want to attack next. Enforcing the Comstock Act would restrict millions of people from getting the crucial health care they need. Add your name to demand that the Comstock Act be repealed now!
Supreme Court justices' and anti-abortion extremists' referencing of this law is dangerous on various levels. It has been reported that these extremists and Trump allies are planning to enforce this law if Donald Trump becomes president again. One of the leaders behind the Texas abortion ban said, "We don’t need a federal ban when we have Comstock on the books" and that Trump should keep his mouth shut about Comstock until after the election.6
Anti-abortion extremists are working behind the scenes and with the right-wing-backed court on their side. We have to come together to spread the word about these dangerous threats to our reproductive rights and demand that those in power take action NOW to stop these extremists from using the Comstock Act, before it's too late.
Sign the petition now to demand that the Comstock Act be repealed, and share it with three friends!
Thanks for all you do.
–MoveOn
| P.S. It’s going to take all of us to come together and defeat MAGA to win the House, Senate, and White House in 2024. Sign up today to join millions of MoveOn members organizing to turn out voters in key battleground states and districts. |
Sources:
PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
