The United States Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Roe v Wade ruling, which will result in abortion being declared illegal in almost half the country, has left people all over the world shocked at what they term an attempt to police women’s reproductive rights.
The landmark 1973 Roe vs Wade ruling recognized a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion and legalized it nationwide, much to the chagrin of Republicans and religious conservatives. However, yesterday (Friday), the Supreme Court decided to upend the decision, making abortion illegal in almost half the US.
According to a 6-3 ruling powered by its conservative majority, a Republican-backed Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks was upheld by the Supreme Court.
The decision has appalled American civil society, political leadership, journalists and media personalities, who are all demanding the restoration of women’s reproductive rights. The ban on abortion represents a sinister need to control women’s bodies, and strips women of their fundamental rights.
Furthermore, people are pointing out that this will disproportionately affect women of color, women experiencing poverty, and women living in unsafe environments. The ban also affects trans men and women.
Former US president Barack Obama lamented on Twitter that the decision by the Supreme Court has reversed 50 years of precedent and struggle, and has attacked the ‘essential freedoms’ of millions of Americans.
Today, the Supreme Court not only reversed nearly 50 years of precedent, it relegated the most intensely personal decision someone can make to the whims of politicians and ideologues—attacking the essential freedoms of millions of Americans.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 24, 2022
Former first lady of the US Michella Obama also penned down a statement which she posted on Twitter, saying that she was heartbroken for the people in the country who lost their right to make informed decisions about their bodies.
My thoughts on the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. pic.twitter.com/9ALSbapHDY
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) June 24, 2022
US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said in a tweet that this ban won’t make abortions go away, it will just make them unsafe and will likely result in more deaths than before.
Overturning Roe and outlawing abortions will never make them go away.
It only makes them more dangerous, especially for the poor + marginalized.
People will die because of this decision. And we will never stop until abortion rights are restored in the United States of America.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 24, 2022
Other people are sharing their views on what they think this ban will represent. Many point out the disparity in the bodily autonomy granted to men and the bodily autonomy given to women.
If this was about babies, there would be universal healthcare. Free education. Free daycare. Southern states would be doing all they can to drop the Black maternal mortality rate. This is about power and control
— derecka (@dereckapurnell) June 24, 2022
Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., on the Justices on the Supreme Court: pic.twitter.com/U1hX839IqQ
— Farnoush Amiri (@FarnoushAmiri) June 24, 2022
Reminder—Women who are raped don’t have protection in many red states. Some places abortion is banned even if the mother’s life is in danger. We are truly entering dark times once again. #SCOTUS #AbortionRightsAreHumanRights https://t.co/lbsIJKeQx4
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) June 24, 2022
My body, my choice, ffs.#AbortionIsHealthcare #AbortionRightsAreHumanRights #MyBodyMyChoice pic.twitter.com/HB4pKkdE1Q
— Leena Suomalainen 🇫🇮 🇪🇸🇪🇺🐶 (@LeeSuoma) June 21, 2022
I’m a Catholic. My wife is a devoted Catholic. We may have our own personal views of what we would do if we had to make a decision. But our decision is ours and private. We will always support every woman to own the right to make HER own decision….#AbortionRightsAreHumanRights
— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) June 25, 2022
