At least 13 people were arrested outside the Supreme Court Tuesday morning as the justices heard the biggest case on abortion since the country’s highest court overturned Roe v Wade.
The abortion rights activists were seen being taken into custody and walked to police vehicles with their hands zip-tied.
Capitol Police said those arrested were moving around Capitol grounds and ‘illegally blocking roads and then a walkway,’ ABC News reported.
It came has hundreds of protesters both for and against abortion rights gathered outside the court ahead of oral arguments in the pivotal case. Emotions ran high with protesters on both sides shouting and carrying signs.
The case revolves around the commonly used abortion drug mifepristone which is used in more than half of abortion in the United States and whether it should be further restricted.
An abortion rights protester being arrested by U.S. Capitol police outside the Supreme Court on Tuesday
U.S. Capitol Police took 13 people into custody near the Supreme Court
Capitol Police said those arrested were moving around Capitol grounds and ‘illegally blocking roads and then a walkway,’ according to ABC News.
The lawsuit was first brought by the group Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, which is a group made up of anti-abortion medical professionals, in November 2022.
They claimed that the Food and Drug Administration did not follow the proper approval process when the drug was first approved in 2000.
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals last year ruled to reimpose a number of severe restrictions on the pill but held back from blocking it from the market altogether.
If the justices rule to uphold the lower court decision, it would not only impact abortion access in states that have moved to further restrict abortion after Roe fell but also states that have moved to protect and expand abortion rights since the landmark decision was overturned.
Pro-abortion rights protesters outside the Supreme Court Tuesday morning ahead of justices hearing arguments in an abortion pill case
Anti-abortion protesters outside the Supreme Court on Tuesday where justices would hear FDA v Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine
A lone pregnant woman protesting against abortion in front of abortion rights protesters. She had painted on her pregnant belly ‘human too’
Hundreds of protesters for abortion rights chanted ‘my body, my choice’ as they marched up the street in front of the court.
Some held signs that specifically addressed mifepristone. Other signs called for Roe to be restored or called out the Supreme Court justices who helped overturn the 1972 ruling.
One of the signs that was handed out to multiple attendees read ‘abortion is our right.’
There were moments where pro-abortion rights protesters came face-to-face with anti-abortion rights protesters who held signs calling on the court to ban the abortion drug.
Some anti-abortion protesters were wearing scrubs and what appeared to be fake blood.
One woman’s sign red ‘the grim reaper loves the abortion pill.’
Dozens of anti-abortion rights protesters gathered for remarks holding signs including ones that read ‘chemical abortion hurts women’ and ‘women’s health matters.’
A woman holding up a box that reads ‘abortion kills’ in Washington, DC as protesters gathered for pivotal abortion pill case
Women signal abortion is important to them in the upcoming election with the sign ‘Mife Miso ’24’ which references the two-step medication abortion process. Mifepristone is one of the two pills used in the medication abortion process
Women carrying a ‘pro Roe’ sign outside the Supreme Court
Pro-abortion rights protesters calling out the conservative Supreme Court justices on Tuesday ahead of the mifepristone hearing
Anti-abortion rights protesters lying on the street outside the Supreme Court
Mifepristone was used in 63% of abortions in 2023 and was used by more than 5.6 million women since its approval in 2000
Emotions were high as protesters on both sides yelled in each others faces and attempting to block each others signs in photos, but apart from verbal confrontations, the protests appeared to remain physically peaceful.
There was an active police presence on the scene throughout the morning as well as fencing in place.
Early Tuesday morning, a line had gathered of people hoping to get a seat in the courtroom for the pivotal case. Some were even camped out in sleeping bags waiting as the sun rose over the court.
While the justices are hearing oral arguments on Tuesday, they are not expected to release a decision in the case until June or really July before the court goes on recess.