A pro-abortion organization called Mayday Health launched a campaign putting advertisements in gas stations across the state of South Dakota promoting its industry.

And now is getting sued by the state, where most abortion procedures are illegal.

The state accuses the organization, whose ads by now mostly have been removed by the business property owners, of “a plethora of deceptive acts and practices, false pretense, false promises, or misrepresentations, and the concealment, suppression, or omission of material facts in connection with the advertisement of abortion-inducing pills and abortion services…”

The action brought by the state targets Mayday Medicines Inc. and Allover. It seeks preliminary and permanent injunctions against the ads.

The state launched an investigation when the ads, claiming, “PREGNANT? DON’T WANT TO BE?” appeared.

The filing charges that Olivia Raisner, who manages the pro-abortion operation, said she targeted South Dakota for ads because of the state’s pro-life rules and regulations.

The state ordered the removal of the commercial language ads, and the company refused, prompting the legal action.

“Many of the South Dakota gas stations initially targeted for Mayday Health’s advertisements voluntarily removed them upon learning what they were. … Indeed, some business owners had refused to permit the advertisements from the outset, but their wishes were not respected, and the ads were posted at their businesses without their consent,” the filing charges.

The state is seeking a court ruling that bars Mayday and its cooperating entities “from engaging in the deceptive advertising of abortion-inducing pills and abortion services in this state. Immediate and irreparable injury, loss, or damage will result to South Dakota consumers who are misled by the deceptive advertisements.”

That loss includes the loss of life or injury to teens who follow instructions from the pro-abortion operation’s website on “how to surreptitiously obtain medical or surgical abortions without their parents’ knowledge or consent.”

The ads claim abortion pills are available “in all 50 states” but South Dakota law makes it illegal to mail abortion-inducing pills into the state.

Courthousenews, which posted a copy of the complaint online, said Attorney General Marty Jackley earlier had warned of a looming lawsuit if the corporation didn’t stop the deceptive advertising.

“Your advertisement directs South Dakota consumers to resources that insinuate abortion-inducing pills are legal in South Dakota, while also urging women not to seek medical care after taking abortion pills and to keep their abortion a secret,” Jackley said in a letter.

Gov. Larry Rhoden said, “South Dakota has the most pro-life laws in the nation — I am proud of that fact.”

The state charges the ads violate the South Dakota Deceptive Practices and Consumer Protection Act.

“The [state] respectfully requests that this court enter an order granting its motion for a preliminary or permanent injunction. Mayday Health intentionally inserted itself into the state to cause this damage, the damage cannot be remedied without the injunction because the deceptive advertisements have created a health and safety risk to South Dakota consumers, Mayday Health acted in bad faith by inserting itself into the state and advertising abortion-inducing pills and abortion service that it knew to be illegal along with other misinformation, and in balancing the equities, the hardship suffered by Mayday Health is slight compared to the benefit gained by the state and South Dakota consumers.”

Bob Unruh

Bob Unruh joined WND in 2006 after nearly three decades with the Associated Press, as well as several Upper Midwest newspapers, where he covered everything from legislative battles and sports to tornadoes and homicidal survivalists. He is currently a news editor for the WND News Center, and also a photographer whose scenic work has been used commercially. Read more of Bob Unruh's articles here.