The US Supreme Court has made a landmark decision overturning the country’s liberal abortion laws. Six of the nine judges voted in favor of the decision, the Supreme Court announced on Friday. The court thus paved the way for stricter abortion laws – up to and including complete bans in individual US states. With that, the current abortion rights in the United States are history after almost half a century.
US President Joe Biden described the historic decision as a “tragic mistake”. “It is, in my view, the realization of an extreme ideology and a tragic error on the part of the Supreme Court,” Biden said. And: “I will do everything in my power to combat this deeply un-American attack.” The US Congress must act now to have the final say on the matter.
US President Joe Biden wants to fight “this deeply un-American attack”.
– © afp / Mandel Ngan
Canada’s Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was appalled. “No government, politician or man should tell a woman what she can and cannot do with her body,” Trudeau wrote on Twitter on Friday, assuring Canadian women to stand up for their right to abortions. The news from neighboring USA is “terrifying”. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson described the decision as a “major step backwards”. During a visit to Rwanda on Friday, Johnson said he had always believed that women should make the decision.
“Constitution grants no right to abortion”
“The constitution does not grant the right to an abortion,” the verdict says. The decision is not a surprise: the magazine “Politico” published a draft of it at the beginning of May. It was already clear from this that the court intends to decide in this way. There was an outcry from women’s rights organizations, clinics and liberals. The verdict is now as drastic as expected. In about half of the states, there are now likely to be extensive restrictions.
There is no federal law in the United States that allows or prohibits abortion. However, abortions are permitted at least until the fetus is viable – today around the 24th week. This has so far been ensured by a landmark ruling by the US Supreme Court in 1973, known as Roe v. Wade is known. Another 1992 ruling, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, reinforced the jurisprudence and adjusted it somewhat. The Supreme Court has now overturned these decisions.
Today’s conservative majority in the US Supreme Court did not hold back in scolding its predecessors. “From the day of his decision, Roe was terribly wrong and on a collision course with the Constitution. Casey has continued his mistakes,” the statement reads. The “powers to regulate” abortion rights are now being returned to the people and their elected officials. In Germany, abortion has not been punishable in the first twelve weeks since 1995 if the woman seeks advice beforehand.
Pelosi: “Slap in the face for women”
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the decision “a slap in the face to women.” Restricting abortion is just the beginning, the Democrat warned on Friday. “This is deadly serious.” Pelosi referred to the congressional elections in November – there the right of women to decide about their own bodies is on the ballot. “Today is one of the darkest days our country has ever seen,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer tweeted.
Former US President Barack Obama called for resistance. “Today the Supreme Court not only reversed nearly 50 years of precedent, it left the most personal decision anyone can make to the whims of politicians and ideologues — and attacked the fundamental freedoms of millions of Americans,” Obama wrote on Twitter.
Obama also shared an image with the caption: “Join the activists who have been raising the alarm about access to abortion for years and take action. Stand with them at a local protest,” it said. His wife Michelle Obama wrote, “I am heartbroken for the people of this country who have just lost the fundamental right to make informed decisions about their own bodies.” The judge’s verdict must be a wake-up call, especially for young people.
Trump son celebrates
The son of ex-President Donald Trump, on the other hand, celebrated the Supreme Court decision as his father’s victory. “Proud of my dad for what he accomplished today,” Donald Trump Junior wrote on Twitter on Friday. His father appointed three Supreme Court judges for “our movement” who oppose liberal abortion rules. The conservative Texas governor Greg Abbott also welcomed the verdict: Texas is a state that protects unborn life.
The Vatican shares the view of the US bishops regarding the overturned abortion law in the USA. The Supreme Court’s decision is a powerful call to think collectively about the serious and pressing issue of human generativity. “By choosing life, our responsibility for the future of humanity is at stake,” said Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life.
The US Catholic Bishops’ Conference also welcomed Friday’s verdict and, according to Kathpress, spoke of a “historic day in the life of our country”.
State decision
The decision now provides for states to leave it up to the states to regulate their abortion laws. This is considered particularly drastic. Some states have already prepared laws that can come into force immediately if the previous case law is overturned – so-called trigger laws. It is primarily the arch-conservative states in the South and Midwest that want to ban abortion completely or almost completely. Missouri and South Dakota were the first.
Liberal states like New York or California, on the other hand, have laws that expressly protect the right to abortion. Nothing is likely to change in these states for the time being. For pregnant women, the decision means having to travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to reach an abortion clinic. Many cannot afford that. It is feared that more and more women will try to have an abortion themselves.
The United Nations pointed out the health risks for women. “Data show that restricting access to abortion doesn’t stop people from having an abortion – it just makes it more deadly,” the UN Population Fund said on Friday.
At the beginning of May, Biden’s Democrats tried to enshrine the right to abortion in law – but failed in the Senate. The vote was primarily symbolic. With their slim majority, the Democrats cannot easily pass such a law. In addition, there was not even unity within their own ranks and Democratic Senator Joe Manchin voted with the Republicans.
Theme for the US elections in November
The Democrats hope to mobilize the issue for the US elections in November. They argue that a clear majority can pass a law that enshrines the right to abortion in law. According to surveys, however, they are likely to lose their majority. The White House had already announced before the decision that it would now turn to Congress again. This attempt is also likely to fail due to the lack of a majority.
Only a minority of the US public polled in favor of Roe v. calf is tilted. According to the Gallup Institute, since the 1970s a majority has supported the right to abortion – with restrictions or under all circumstances.
Some states such as Texas had recently overturned it through a civil law detour. The law there prohibits all abortions once the fetal heartbeat has been determined. This can happen as early as the sixth week of pregnancy. What is unusual about the law is that it allows private individuals to take civil action against anyone who assists with an abortion. This legal trick also makes it particularly difficult to challenge the law in court. (apa/reuters/dpa)
–
