An activist has taken an abortion pill on live television, during a debate on Fox 2 in the US.
To mark the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade - a landmark decision in which the Supreme Court ruled that abortion is a constitutional right - the show invited activist and reproductive healthcare advocate Jex Blackmore, as well as anti-abortion activist Rebecca Kiessling onto the programme to debate.
During the discussion, the panel began discussing the abortion pill, which can be delivered by post. Trying to demonstrate how easy the pill is, Jex decided to swallow an abortion pill - known as mifepristone - explaining to host Charlie Langton: “I want to show you how easy it is, how safe it is, by taking it myself."
You can watch below:
Jex - who refers to themself as she/they - then popped the pill in her mouth and took a sip of water. Host Charlie seemed rather shocked, and asked Jex if she was pregnant.
“I would say that this is going to end a pregnancy...This will be my third abortion," she said.
"Wow, that doesn't happen often," said Charlie.
The Metro Times reports that Jex confirmed to them in an email that she did take mifepristone - one of two tablets used for abortion up to 10 weeks.
"Abortion is a common and safe medical procedure surrounded by stigma. Stigma keeps people silent about their personal experiences and creates space for harmful, inaccurate narratives," they said.
"My action was intended to dispel some of those myths, misinformation, and stigma. I wanted to share, that for many of us, it's a simple process and with mail-order pills, we can have an abortion on our own terms."
The monumental case of Roe v. Wade is at risk of being overturned by the Supreme Court. If this happens, abortion could be made illegal again in a number of states.
Featured Image Credit: Fox 2
Lucy Devine