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The Supreme Court Is Close to Overturning Roe v. Wade
On Monday night, a draft from Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. was leaked detailing that the Supreme Court has voted to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Abortion rights are at a critical standstill this week. On Monday night, a Roe v. Wade draft opinion from Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. leaked per Politico, where Alito called for the overruling of the decision that holds women's federal constitutional right to abortions. According to CNN, the five Justices who consist of the majority overruling Roe include Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.
“Roe was egregiously wrong from the start. Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences," Alito wrote in the draft. "And far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division.”
According to The New York Times, the decision will not be finalized for an additional month or longer, but will have a massive affect on reproductive rights in individual states. Almost half of the United States are expected to ban abortions – specifically states in the South and Midwest regions – which may lead to a higher rate of illegal and dangerous abortions, notably for underprivileged women who are unable to travel for legal abortions.
Upon the news being leaked, abortion rights protesters flocked to the Supreme Court on Monday evening.
“The American people have the right to act through their elected officials to debate and enact laws that protect unborn children and honor women,” Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the national anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony List, shared in a statement.
President Joe Biden – who supports abortion rights – also gave a statement on the leaked draft.
"We do not know whether this draft is genuine, or whether it reflects the final decision of the Court,” he said. If Roe is overturned, he added, it will be up to voters and lawmakers to "protect a woman’s right to choose."
In January 1973, the Supreme Court decided in favor of Roe v. Wade, which determined the right to an abortion under the United States constitution.
Here's how people are responding to the decision:
\u201cAbortion and contraception underpin almost every other woman\u2019s right there is. Reproductive healthcare is the bedrock of our ability to have public and private lives of our own choosing.\n\nOverturning Roe v Wade would be an assault on every woman in America.\u201d— Ash Sarkar (@Ash Sarkar) 1651560617
\u201cThe leaked SCOTUS opinion on Roe v Wade will set women\u2019s rights back generations. Black women & those living in rural areas will be worst impacted. \n\nWe must codify the right to safe abortions.\u201d— Robin Kelly (@Robin Kelly) 1651543144
\u201cIf you are upset that #RoeVWade is about to be overturned by the Supreme Court but you didn\u2019t vote in 2016 or you voted for Trump because you didn\u2019t like the smart lady, YOU did this w/your apathy or your decision to choose an imp for President. YOU gave him THREE SCOTUS seats.\u201d— yvette nicole brown (@yvette nicole brown) 1651540152
\u201cThe Supreme Court overturning Roe V. Wade while the whole country is distracted by an inconsequential event celebrating extreme wealth is, unfortunately, the most symbolic representation of America rn\u201d— julia hava (@julia hava) 1651540072
\u201cRight now: Barricades are up around the Supreme Court building, just minutes after reports from Politico were leaked indicating SCOTUS has voted to overturn Roe v. Wade.\u201d— Cami Mondeaux (@Cami Mondeaux) 1651540259
