Federal Case in Amarillo Threatens Access to Mifepristone
Yesterday’s ruling by Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk allowing the continuation of the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA case in Amarillo is yet another attack on reproductive freedom and access to abortion through safe, essential medication. As residents of the very city where this case is being litigated - by a notoriously anti-abortion extremist judge - we stand in full opposition to these relentless efforts to strip away reproductive rights and deny people access to mifepristone—a medication that has been safely and effectively used by millions for decades.
Highlighting the words of Julia Kaye from the ACLU: “The nation’s leading medical authorities describe mifepristone as one of the safest medicines available – safer than many drugs in your medicine cabinet right now. And even President-elect Trump walked back his attacks on abortion after realizing how overwhelmingly unpopular restricting abortion is with the American public.” These attacks on mifepristone are not rooted in science or public health—they are politically motivated attempts to control bodies under the guise of legality.
It’s critical to emphasize that mifepristone is more than just an abortion medication. It is a vital tool for miscarriage management, offering patients a safe, non-invasive option to complete a miscarriage and reduce the risk of complications. For patients with varying reproductive health conditions, mifepristone can also play an essential role in treatment. Restricting access to this medication harms patients, adding unnecessary trauma to already difficult situations.
Blocking access to mifepristone would also further stigmatize abortion and force individuals—many of whom are already facing systemic barriers—to undertake impossible journeys to access basic healthcare. These measures are cruel, unnecessary, and deeply harmful—not just to the people of Amarillo, Texas, but to millions across the country who need abortion care, miscarriage management, and access to essential medication
Let us be clear: the defeat of Proposition A in Amarillo in 2024 was a resounding statement that people across political and religious lines value privacy, freedom, and the ability to make their own healthcare decisions—including decisions about abortion. This ruling isn’t just about one city or one courtroom—it’s about the future of reproductive healthcare access nationwide. The ripple effects of banning or restricting mifepristone would devastate patients across the United States, especially those already struggling to access care.
The Amarillo Reproductive Freedom Alliance (ARFA) remains steadfast in our commitment to community care, reproductive justice, and ending the stigma around abortion. Mifepristone is one of the safest and most effective medications available—whether for abortion, miscarriage management, or other essential reproductive healthcare. We stand in solidarity with those who refuse to let fear, judgement, religious extremism, or political agendas dictate abortion access and private healthcare decisions.
This fight is about more than medication—it’s about defending dignity, autonomy, and the fundamental right to comprehensive reproductive healthcare for all. To those who attempt to control our bodies and choices: your attacks on our freedom only strengthen our resolve.
The stakes couldn’t be higher, and we will never stop fighting.
