Inflatable IUD displayed outside Milwaukee City Hall as part of national tour

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A 20-foot inflatable intrauterine device, named "Freeda Womb," was displayed outside Milwaukee City Hall early Friday, Sept. 13 as part of the national "IUD Express" tour hosted by the group Americans for Contraception.

Milwaukee’s Democratic city and state leaders, alongside Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin, spoke at the event about the importance of protecting access to contraception.

State Rep. Deb Andraca noted that Republican legislators blocked the Right to Contraception Act, introduced last year. The bill, drafted after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, aimed to protect access to contraceptives, including IUDs and birth control pills.

"Let’s be clear, healthcare is a right, not a privilege, and contraception is healthcare," Andraca said. "We need to elect more Wisconsin legislators that are willing to pass and hold public hearings on the Right to Contraception Act."

Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa added, "Let’s vote for leaders who will defend our reproductive freedoms and support and ensure and safeguard our future."

According to the Americans for Contraception website, this was not the first appearance of the inflatable IUD in Milwaukee; it was also displayed at the lakefront in July.