Image Courtesy:healthline.com
On May 2, an exclusive report by Politico revealed that the US Supreme Court has voted to strike down Roe vs. Wade, a historic case that had granted reproductive freedom to women, particularly with respect to abortion rights. Politico published a leaked initial draft of the court’s majority opinion that showed how a majority of the court’s justices were against the decision in the landmark 1973 case and also a subsequent decision in 1992 in the Planned Parenthood vs. Casey case.
Politico published the initial draft where the majority opinion penned by Justice Samuel Alito writes, “Roe was egregiously wrong from the start,” and in the document labeled as Opinion of the Court says, “We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled.”
A Conservative majority?
At present the Supreme Court has nine justices. While Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett are seen as conservative and had reported with fellow conservative Alito, the justices with more liberal views (all Democratic appointees), namely Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan are reportedly penning dissenting opinions. Chief Justice John Roberts’s opinion on the matter is not known. However, he has ordered an inquiry into the leak.
It is noteworthy that in the US, Supreme Court justices are appointed by the President and their appointments are for life. Barrett, Cavanaugh and Gorsuch are Trump appointees. It is also alleged that Cavanaugh and Gorsuch may have misrepresented their stand on Roe vs Wade in order to get appointed.
We need a grand jury to investigate whether Justices Kavanaugh and Gorsuch LIED under oath when they testified during their confirmation hearings that #RoeVWade was “Settled law.” They appear to have been knowingly lying under oath. If they did, they MUST be charged and removed.
— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) May 4, 2022
Legislative push against choice?
Abortion laws differ from state to state in the US, and conservative states make it almost impossible for women to get safe abortions, forcing many to seek out quacks and unsafe back-alley clinics. Some states like Mississippi are inclined to ban abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy or less than four months.
There are also conservative groups that have been lobbying to ban abortions in cases a heartbeat is detected, which happens between 5 to 6 weeks of gestation. Given how most pregnancies are not detected that early, the proposal by these conservative groups virtually bans abortions outright. This is why the Texas abortion law was deemed controversial.
In fact, shortly after the leaked document’s contents became public, Oklahoma banned abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.
I am proud to sign SB 1503, the Oklahoma Heartbeat Act into law.
I want Oklahoma to be the most pro-life state in the country because I represent all four million Oklahomans who overwhelmingly want to protect the unborn. pic.twitter.com/XQr7khRLRa
— Governor Kevin Stitt (@GovStitt) May 3, 2022
Peaceful protests across the US
The revelation by Politico has sent shockwaves across the United States with women’s rights groups and activists highlighting how overruling these two landmark judgments would set women’s reproductive freedoms back and ultimately endanger their lives.
“Let’s be clear: This is a draft opinion. It’s outrageous, it’s unprecedented, but it is not final. Abortion is your right — and it is STILL LEGAL,” tweeted Planned Parenthood, the organization that has been at the forefront of ensuring women have access to safe birth control measures including safe abortions.
Let’s be clear: This is a draft opinion. It’s outrageous, it’s unprecedented, but it is not final.
Abortion is your right — and it is STILL LEGAL. https://t.co/s9R7w99n71— Planned Parenthood (@PPFA) May 3, 2022
No matter what happens, women aren’t baby vessels and property to be regulated. It feels bleak IK, but wherever you are please look for and join response actions. They’ll do what they’ve planned for decades, but it matters to protest loudly. In DC, SCOTUS steps. #BansOffOurBodies
— Soraya Chemaly (@schemaly) May 3, 2022
Abortion is still legal.
We’re fighting like hell to keep it that way.
?: @RebeccaLeeFunk pic.twitter.com/I9UMl5Or9v
— Women’s March (@womensmarch) May 3, 2022
I wonder how many people under the age of 50 understand how this photo relates to the battle over access to safe abortion? #abortionrights #RoeVsWade pic.twitter.com/vEf54PMHSR
— Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) May 3, 2022
Many also pointed out how maternal mortality rates were higher among women of colour, particularly black women, showcasing how reduced access to safe abortions could impact black women the most.
Millions of women across the US could soon lose their legal right to abortion, according to a leaked Supreme Court document. (The document has been confirmed authentic).
Our Chief Policy Officer & Senior Counsel, @Tammiekboyd weighs in. #RoevWade #AbortionRights #AbortionBan pic.twitter.com/xcZQCjwHHw
— blkwomenshealth (@blkwomenshealth) May 3, 2022
Peaceful protests were organised in different cities, where women got together to demand their rights, stating unequivocally that safe abortions were a part of healthcare for women.
Moving display of gender solidarity in Austin today. A call and response of “My body, my choice” and “Their body, their choice” #RoeVsWade pic.twitter.com/XxoyVJzur6
— Strike For Choice ? (@StrikeForChoice) May 4, 2022
We’re here. And we won’t go back. #BansOffOurBodies pic.twitter.com/TfP9nv2K2K
— The Leadership Conference (@civilrightsorg) May 3, 2022
Today, we showed up for abortion rights, said #BansOffOurBodies, and lifted up our stories – but this is just the beginning.
We can’t stop showing up to protect Roe. We’re going to keep coming together in larger and larger actions in the coming days, weeks, months.
Stay tuned.
— Women’s March (@womensmarch) May 4, 2022
?️?️
What do we want?
Abortion rights.
When do we want it?
NOW. pic.twitter.com/q0wn9DXY99— ACLU (@ACLU) May 3, 2022
President and Vice President stand by women’s rights
The outrage even led to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris issuing statements in support of women’s rights.
Taking to Twitter President Biden said, “The draft opinion calls into question the fundamental right to privacy — the right to make personal choices about marriage, whether to have children, and how to raise them. These are fundamental rights for Americans — a critical part of who we are.”
The draft opinion calls into question the fundamental right to privacy — the right to make personal choices about marriage, whether to have children, and how to raise them.
These are fundamental rights for Americans — a critical part of who we are.
— President Biden (@POTUS) May 3, 2022
My statement on the reported Supreme Court decision draft. pic.twitter.com/Kt3bP0kzqU
— President Biden (@POTUS) May 3, 2022
“The rights of all Americans are at risk in this draft opinion. If the right to privacy is weakened, every person could face a future in which the government can potentially interfere in the personal decisions you make about your life,” tweeted Harris, adding, “This is the time to fight for women and our country with everything we have.”
The rights of all Americans are at risk in this draft opinion. If the right to privacy is weakened, every person could face a future in which the government can potentially interfere in the personal decisions you make about your life.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) May 3, 2022
This is the time to fight for women and our country with everything we have. My statement on the Supreme Court decision draft on Roe v. Wade. pic.twitter.com/5tvjOUTmZ2
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) May 3, 2022
Meanwhile, some states, predictably those that are led by Democrats, are working to ensure women’s reproductive rights are not violated. “California will not stand by as women across America are stripped of their rights,” tweeted the Office of the Governor of California.
California will not stand by as women across America are stripped of their rights.
With @SenToniAtkins and @Rendon63rd, we are proposing an amendment to enshrine the right to choose in the California constitution. #RoeVsWade pic.twitter.com/CAS7m11VRk
— Office of the Governor of California (@CAgovernor) May 3, 2022
Tonight, New Yorkers came together to say get your #BansOffOurBodies.
We won’t be silent.
It’s our body, our choice, and we’re going to fight to protect the right to an abortion. #RoeVWade pic.twitter.com/V5s1Ul21O4
— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) May 3, 2022
There are now increasing concerns about how the filibuster that is being used to target women’s reproductive rights, could now be used to target other key landmark judgments pertaining to affirmative action, same-sex marriage etc. In fact, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Kirsten Gillibrand have urged that the country rethinks the filibuster altogether:
End the filibuster. Codify #RoeVWade with a national law protecting abortion rights. Expand the Supreme Court. Stop this horrifying injustice in its tracks.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) May 3, 2022
Codify Roe. End the filibuster. Fight like hell to preserve our fundamental human rights.
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) May 3, 2022
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