Dozens rally in Chicago after judge rules to reverse FDA approval of abortion pill mifepristone
Governor JB Pritzker blasted the Texas ruling, calling it a 'dangerous decision'
CHICAGO (WLS) -- A couple dozen people in support of abortion rights rallied outside Federal Plaza Saturday before taking their rally to the streets, marching down to Michigan Avenue.
They say they're outraged by the Texas ruling threatening women's access to one of the most common methods of abortion in this country.
Protesters said Friday's major ruling by a Texas federal judge suspending the FDA's approval of the drug mifepristone is yet another attempt to make abortion illegal nationwide.
"This is a major escalation," said Jay Becker, a Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights volunteer.
The judge said the FDA's more than 20-year-old approval is a violation of federal law around accelerated approval for certain drugs.
"It is an unscientific ruling, it's an unsubstantiated ruling, it's a politically driven ruling," said Paul Street, an abortion rights supporter.
However, some abortion rights opponents are applauding the judge's ruling.
"It was certainly a victory. It is one that we've been praying for for some time," said Kristan Hawkins.
But that Texas decision came at nearly the same time another Washington state federal judge essentially ordered the opposite, directing authorities not to make any changes that would restrict access to the abortion pill.
"The Texas case would bar essentially bar mifepristone nationwide. The Washington case would require in 17 states that it be made available. So those two are clashing. There has to be a resolution of that difference, either by this next Court of Appeals or ultimately by the supreme court," said ABC7 legal analyst Gil Soffer.
Governor JB Pritzker blasted the Texas ruling, calling it a "dangerous decision."
RELATED: Illinois officials outraged at competing rulings putting abortion pill in limbo
Protesters in Chicago said it overruled decades of scientific approval in yet another attempt to make abortion illegal nationwide.
"This, however, is a major escalation because it is a federal ruling that will impact all of us. People think, oh, we are in a blue state. I feel bad for other people. No, this is all of us," Becker said.
"The multiple and conflicting rulings can cause tremendous confusion and anxiety for out patients," Planned Parenthood of Illinois said in a statement, adding, "To be clear, PPIL will continue to provide safe and legal medication abortion with or without mifepristone."
The White House is promising to fight to preserve women's access to the abortion pill and Attorney General Merrick Garland said he is already appealing the ruling.
The abortion rights group said they're planning another protest for next Saturday again here at 1pm at the Federal Plaza.
Illinois Right to Life also responded to the ruling, saying, "28 women have died nationally as a direct result of the use of Mifepristone, and countless more have been injured. This is exactly the correct decision and we are hopeful that it will hold."
