Dozens of anti-abortion activists streamed to the National Pro-Life Summit held at a Washington DC hotel, filling every seat as spirited talks commenced. With speakers utilizing compelling themes like the need to be “a little more like Jesus, a little less like me,” the event quickly morphed from discussions to fervent calls-to-action around the “Future of Chemical Abortion in America.” Among the notable speakers was Erik Baptist, now leading the Center for Life at the conservative legal group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), who emphasized the urgency surrounding medication abortions.
Since July, Baptist has pushed the agenda of the ADF, known for its pivotal role in dismantling Roe v. Wade and advocating for strict legal frameworks surrounding abortion. Sitting at the heart of the anti-abortion legal battles, he underscored, “Chemical abortion is the No 1 priority and issue of our time, for the life movement.” Under his leadership, the ADF has adopted aggressive legal strategies aimed at curtailing access to medication abortion, which comprises about two-thirds of all procedures performed post-Roe.
The ADF, characterized as the rightwing answer to the American Civil Liberties Union, thrives on the legal front lines of several key issues. It continues to challenge recent Supreme Court rulings, participations leading toward significant litigation like the forthcoming Kerr v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, potentially shaking federal funding for Planned Parenthood—the movement’s arch enemy.
Baptist highlighted several strategies for 2025 aimed at curbing medication abortion, mentioning impending cases challenging FDA regulations around mifepristone, the primary abortion pill. A Texas federal judge’s recent decision to allow three states to revive their previously dismissed lawsuits shows promise for conservative activists. Baptist anticipates judicial support, worrying about “blue states” attempting to thwart Dobbs's promise. “I frankly think the supreme court will be annoyed,” he remarked, adding to the overall narrative of tension between states defending abortion access and those enacting stricter laws.
Litigations spearheaded by the ADF could reshape the American abortion rights narrative significantly. Baptist noted, “We’re obviously trying to win in courts and try to protect as many unborn lives as we can.” This statement resonates strongly within the anti-abortion movement, which believes legal action can, and must, bolster their agenda as legislators debate the future of reproductive rights. Beyond immediate concerns about medication, the ADF is also focused on dismantling state-level protections for providers shipping abortion medications across state lines.
The split between conservative states, like Texas, and liberal states, such as New York, raises potential for what Baptist labeled as “a constitutional crisis.” This discussion echoes broader fears among anti-abortion advocates as they observe rising abortion rates post-Roe, with more than one million abortions logged across the U.S. last year—an alarming statistic for pro-life advocates.
Baptist’s reflections do not stop at litigation; they extend to anticipated executive actions, drawing insight from the Trump administration's past efforts to limit abortion access. He theorizes, “The executive branch, on its own accord, without litigation, can do the right thing as well,” pointing toward the possibility of regulatory changes at the FDA concerning mifepristone approval. His comments spark concern among abortion rights advocates about the potential for sweeping changes without legislative oversight.
Under Baptist’s direction, ADF maintains its ambitious momentum after the historical shifts spurred by the Supreme Court, advocating vigorously for what it perceives as both moral and legal imperatives. Recent victories at the court appear to encourage their aggressive stance, with Baptist asserting, “Since 2011, we have won 15 times at the US supreme court.” Each victory, he claims, strengthens their resolve and operational viability, focusing the anti-abortion narrative toward multiple fronts of litigation.
While Baptist champions the notion of litigation as the pathway to victory, it’s evident the ADF is also prepared to leverage increased political support to achieve its objectives. The 2024 elections are poised to play a pivotal role, potentially reshaping the anti-abortion discourse as pro-life forces rally for consistent legal frameworks across jurisdictions.
Baptist envisions 2025 as pivotal for the anti-abortion movement, with continuous litigation feeding momentum to erode the structural integrity of abortion rights established by previous court rulings. Attendees at the summit left with palpable enthusiasm, chanting slogans likely to echo through court proceedings and legislative hearings statewide.
With roots deep in the post-Dobbs world, the ADF plans to keep pushing on legal battlegrounds, compelling more significant political and social shifts to favor their longstanding cause. For the organization, the upcoming years are not merely about mediated discussions but rather, as Baptist insists, about ensuring “the right thing” prevails across America's courts.