Thirteen protesters arrested as Supreme Court takes up major abortion case: Demonstrators tussle with cops as justices argue whether pill should be available nationwide

At least 13 people were arrested outside the Supreme Court Tuesday morning as justices heard the largest abortion case since the nation’s highest court overturned Roe v Wade.

Abortion rights activists were seen detained and walking toward police vehicles with their hands tied.

Capitol Police said those arrested were moving around the Capitol grounds and “illegally blocking roads and then a walkway,” ABC News reported.

Hundreds of pro- and anti-abortion rights protesters gathered outside the courthouse ahead of oral arguments in the pivotal case. Emotions ran high and protesters on both sides shouted and carried signs.

The case revolves around the commonly used abortion drug mifepristone, which is used in more than half of abortions in the United States and whether it should be further restricted.

The lawsuit was first filed 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.

Last year, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled to reimpose a series of harsh restrictions on the pill, but stopped short of blocking it from the market entirely.

If the justices decide to uphold the lower court’s decision, it would not only affect abortion access in states that have taken steps to further restrict abortion after the fall of Roe, but also in states that have taken steps to protect and expand the right to abortion since the historic decision was overturned.

Hundreds of abortion rights protesters chanted “my body, my choice” as they marched down the street outside the courthouse.

Some held signs that talked specifically about mifepristone. Other posters called for Roe to be reinstated or criticized the Supreme Court justices who helped overturn the 1972 ruling.

One of the signs that was given to several attendees said “abortion is our right.”

There were times when pro-abortion rights protesters came face to face with anti-abortion rights protesters holding signs asking the court to ban the abortion drug.

Some anti-abortion protesters wore medical gowns and what appeared to be fake blood.

A woman’s red sign: “Death loves the abortion pill.”

Dozens of anti-abortion rights protesters gathered to deliver remarks holding signs that included one that read “chemical abortion harms women” and “women’s health matters.”

Emotions ran high as protesters on both sides shouted in each other’s faces and attempted to block each other’s signs in photographs, but aside from verbal confrontations, the protests appeared to remain physically peaceful.

There was an active police presence at the scene throughout the morning, as well as fences.

Early Tuesday morning, a line had formed 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 field.

While the justices will hear oral arguments on Tuesday, they are not expected to release a decision on the case until June or actually July, before the court goes into recess.