Why a giant inflatable IUD named Freeda was in Richmond

She's purple, she's 20-feet tall and her name is Freeda.

Why it matters: She's also a giant inflatable IUD on a nationwide tour to advocate for the protection of birth control access. Her latest stop was Richmond.

Driving the news: Freeda was posted up at the Virginia Capitol building yesterday morning and later at Diversity Thrift, where the IUD was visible from the highway.

• Beside it were postcards from the cities Freeda has visited (which include D.C., Miami and Nashville).
• Earlier this week, it was at Virginia Beach.

The big picture: The massive IUD, an idea from Americans for Contraception , went viral after the organization debuted it at Union Station on June 5 — when the U.S. Senate was voting on the Right to Contraception Act .

• Nearly all Republicans blocked the bill.
• In Virginia, Gov. Youngkin vetoed legislation in May aimed at ensuring that residents have the right to contraceptives regardless of any federal law changes.
• He said while he supports access to contraception, "we cannot trample on the religious freedoms of Virginians."

Between the lines: When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Justice Clarence Thomas said in a concurring opinion that the court should reconsider decisions protecting birth control access .

What's next: Freeda is headed to Philly.