Planned Parenthood holds community outreach event in anticipation of judge's possible ruling on abortion pill

The event was in response to the possibility of the abortion pill mifepristone being removed from shelves across the country. The Food and Drug Administration-approved drug is used as a medical form of abortion as opposed to surgery.

News 12 Staff

Apr 3, 2023, 1:44 AM

Updated 551 days ago

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A community outreach event was held in New York City Sunday in anticipation of a Texas federal judge's decision on access to an abortion pill.
Planned Parenthood of Greater New York held the event to educate New Yorkers on their rights and access to abortion. There was a mix of emotions that filled the Riverside church during the event.
"You know, we got to come out and stand up for these things," said participant Sarah Anllo.
The event was in response to the possibility of the abortion pill mifepristone being removed from shelves across the country. The Food and Drug Administration-approved drug is used as a medical form of abortion as opposed to surgery.
Organizers said the decision to pull the pill from shelves could be detrimental to abortion access.
"[It] undoes 20 years of safety data and the best medical practice we have for patients who are seeking not only abortion, but also miscarriage treatment," said Dr. Gabriela Aguilar, regional medical director of Planned Parenthood of Greater New York.
In anticipation of the decision, event organizer Nicole Margiasso said she wanted to provide a space for people to learn about their rights to abortion.
"How we and other providers in New York City are preparing and will be pivoting to make sure we can continue to provide access to medical abortions, regardless of the decision," Margiasso elaborated. She added that the decision could be an overreach.
"It's another way to interfere with access to make it more difficult," she said.
Medical providers said the decision could be a disappointment.
"It's taking away our ability to care for folks the best that we can, and taking away the dignity of our patients," Aguilar said.
While it would not completely outlaw medical abortions, organizers said it could take away a safe alternative.
"We're not going to back down. We're going to continue providing our care and getting correct information out to people," Margiasso said.