Abortion rights have been a tense issue in the states for several years. Pro-Life or Pro-Abortion stances have divided the community, with both sides having legitimate reasons for their respective decisions. However, the recent events would change the dynamic drastically as the infamous court decision overturning Roe v. Wade has garnered a lot of backlash.
Roe v. Wade Overturned: Why should it Matter
The supreme court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision after a 5-4 vote called for abolishing the right to abortion. The Roe decision has had abortion rights since 1973, and its overturning means that abortion is no longer a constitutionally protected right.
Predictions claim that abortion may become outlawed or extremely restricted across half the states in the U.S.A. The overturning resulted from the Supreme Court decision regarding the Mississippi Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case.
Four conservatives and Judge Samuel Alito went against the three liberals regarding the overturning. While the Judge voted to uphold the Mississippi abortion restrictions, Roe’s fate overall remains unknown.
President Joe Biden on Friday stated that “the health and life of women in this nation are now at risk” after the announcement of the decision. He added, “It’s a sad day for the court and the country,” while calling for Congress to rectify said overturning.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi referred to the overturning as an “insult, a slap in the face to women.” Obama also spoke out against the overturning of the 50-year-old precedent referring to the action be “attacking the essential freedoms of millions of Americans.”
Public Reaction to the Overturn
Unsurprisingly, a sizeable majority of Americans vehemently opposed the overturning of said precedent. In a poll conducted by CNN in May, 66% of Americans did not want the Supreme court to overturn its decision against a measly 34%.
Thousands moved to the streets to protest the end of the constitutional right guaranteed to women for almost 50 years. New York had the most protests, with many protestors angered at the decision to decide their rights.
Although some clinics have vowed to carry on providing abortions in states with limits or bans, most have reversed their sentiments over the fear of being involved with illegal operations. Instead, President Biden has pointed the finger at the two-time impeached previous president Donald Trump.
Biden says, “It was three justices named by one president, Donald Trump, who were the core of today’s decision to upend the scales of justice and eliminate a fundamental right for women in this country.”
Protestors have also displayed anger toward Trump and their representative, Senator Susan Collins. Senator Susan published a statement on Friday claiming that she felt the justices misrepresented their views on abortion in private meetings with her. However, the enraged crowd has called her “hypocrisy,” claiming she knew they were “Trump approved.”
Senator Susan Collins is now under fire, and enraged protestors want to vote her out, saying, “We tried to get her out once, and we’ll try again.”
While the Pro-Abortion crowd and many sympathetic Americans to the cause are shocked, enraged, and angered, the Pro-Life group celebrates their victory. They remain adamant in their cause, restricting women’s options while remaining unaffected.
Reference
Authors at Politico. Supreme Court has voted to over turn abortion rights; draft opinion shows, https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/02/supreme-court-abortion-draft-opinion-00029473