By Cate Rosa, Alliance Intern from Boston University ’26
The Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision was a clear assault on reproductive rights. Fortunately, individuals in need of an abortion still had access to an alternative: mifepristone – the FDA approved “abortion pill” that accounted for 63% of US abortions in 2023. However, in another desperate and invasive attempt to limit our rights and bodily autonomy, anti-abortion leaders are seeking to deny access to mifepristone by resurfacing an 1873 law – known as the Comstock Act, which bans mailing of materials used to produce abortions.
While the Biden administration has stated the Act is not applicable under current laws, this stance isn’t set in stone for future administrations. Based on the results of the upcoming election, there’s a real possibility that the law could be leveraged to restrict abortion access and even care provided for miscarriages. It’s crucial that we act now to overturn this outdated law and shield ourselves from potential GOP efforts to curtail our autonomy. Join the Alliance in signing Move On’s petition to protect access to reproductive healthcare.