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Louisiana’s Disregard for Pregnant People and Black Voters Must Not Be Ignored

The stakes are undeniable when voting rights are diminished and abortion access is on the line.

On Monday, the Supreme Court cleared the way for the abortion pill mifepristone to be mailed across the country, treating it like thousands of other drugs available through the United States Postal Service. The Supreme Court’s order, which is temporary, was released on the heels of emergency petitions filed by the pharmaceutical companies Danco and GenBioPro, after a three-judge panel at the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued an order “blocking the mailing of mifepristone prescriptions” across the country, no matter whether abortion is legal in the state. Both requested that the Supreme Court issue an administrative stay to prevent the lower court’s order from taking effect.

The case is part of an ongoing effort launched by conservative lawmakers, antiabortion groups, and emboldened attorneys general intended to eviscerate nationwide access to abortion, by prohibiting access to medication abortion through telehealth providers. This specific effort has been taken up by Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill and Rosalie Markezich, who says she was manipulated into taking mifepristone by her former boyfriend in his effort to end her pregnancy.

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While the Supreme Court’s order, signed by Justice Samuel Alito, eases immediate concerns, especially for those seeking to end their pregnancies, the underlying conceit and harm posed by Louisiana’s litigation is devastating and should not be ignored. Its potential harmful reach mirrors that in the Supreme Court’s recent voting rights decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which gutted the Voting Rights Act. Both cases seek to expand Louisiana’s permissive view of discrimination and cramped stand on sex and race equality, justice, and liberty to the entire nation. The Supreme Court has already granted Louisiana its imprimatur on voting rights. Will........

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