Abortion Pills by Mail Banner Flies Over Indy500 Event

Over Memorial Day weekend, something unusual—and honestly, pretty bold—happened at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mayday Health, an abortion advocacy group, hired a plane to fly a huge banner reading Abortion pills by mail over the track during the Indy 500 and related festivities.

This move brought the ongoing abortion debate right into the spotlight, especially in a state like Indiana with strict pro-life laws.

Mayday Health’s Bold Move at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Mayday Health chose the Speedway for a reason. They wanted to reach as many people as possible during one of the biggest racing weekends of the year.

The banner circled above the Speedway on Carb Day, during the parade, and all throughout the main event—the Indy 500 itself.

Why Indiana?

Indiana’s tough pro-life laws make it a prime target for Mayday Health’s activism. The state protects most preborn children from abortion, and requires that abortion pills be given out in person—not by mail.

That’s the exact opposite of Mayday Health’s mission, which is all about making abortion pills available by mail to increase access.

Federal Aviation Regulations and Event Affiliation

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy 500 had nothing to do with Mayday Health’s banner. According to the Indiana Capital Chronicle, Federal Aviation Administration rules allowed the plane to fly its message without needing any approval from event organizers.

This detail makes it clear that Mayday Health acted on its own, separate from the event itself.

Mayday Health’s Mission and Methods

Olivia Raisner, Mayday Health’s executive director, said their main goal was to educate more people about abortion access. The group pushes for abortion on demand and targets states with pro-life policies.

They encourage women to use the abortion pill—made up of mifepristone and misoprostol—even past the FDA-approved gestational limit. They also share info on how minors can travel to states where parental approval isn’t needed for an abortion.

Health Risks and Controversy

The abortion pill can cause serious side effects. A study published by the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC), called The Abortion Pill Harms Women, found that nearly 11% of women experienced sepsis, infection, hemorrhaging, or other severe complications after taking mifepristone.

That’s way higher than the less than 0.5% rate of serious side effects reported by the FDA.

Emotional Toll

There’s the emotional side, too. Some women have reported trauma after seeing their baby’s body following the use of the abortion pill.

This emotional impact adds another difficult layer to an already heated issue.

Indiana’s Pro-Life Legislation

After the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, Indiana became the first state to pass new pro-life laws. The state now protects preborn children from abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the fetus or mother is at risk.

Indiana also requires that abortion pills be given in person—not through telehealth, which is exactly what Mayday Health promotes.

Impact on Abortion Rates

Indiana’s strict laws have dramatically changed abortion rates. According to the Indiana Department of Health, there were just 146 abortions in 2024—a 98% drop compared to 2022.

That’s a huge decline by any measure.

Public Reaction and Confusion

Mayday Health’s Indy 500 banner left many race fans scratching their heads. The Indiana Capital Chronicle reported that a lot of spectators seemed confused by the message.

This confusion really shows just how divided people remain over abortion access—and the ways groups like Mayday Health try to get their point across.

Conclusion

Mayday Health flew a banner over the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the Indy 500, advertising abortion pills by mail. That move stirred up a lot of controversy, as you might expect.

The event highlights the ongoing fight over abortion access in states like Indiana, where pro-life laws are strict. Mayday Health says it wants to raise awareness and make abortion pills more accessible.

But there are health risks and emotional impacts tied to using these pills, and those concerns are still very real. If you’re interested in more details, check out the full article here.