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.
https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/1540340642848690176
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.
https://twitter.com/MichelleObama/status/1540345715616006148
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.
https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1540354815477293056
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.
https://twitter.com/dereckapurnell/status/1540352483746349056
https://twitter.com/FarnoushAmiri/status/1540390460920922117
https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1540440376586166273
https://twitter.com/LeeSuoma/status/1539299849065189377
https://twitter.com/chefjoseandres/status/1540524138238038017