Abortion in the United States: protests against the Supreme Court ruling are rampant

The United States remains in shock at the momentous Supreme Court ruling on Friday that canceled the right to abortion, a decision that deepened the social and political rift. The outraged by the ruling of the highest court went out this Saturday to protest across the country, while the more conservative states have already begun to ban the termination of pregnancies.

Athletes and celebrities talk, companies help those about to have an abortion, President Joe Biden said it was a “tragic mistake” and the issue is debated in families and in every corner of the country.

The Supreme Court overturned the historic Roe v. Wade, which enshrined a woman’s right to abortion at the federal level in 1973, allowing each state to enact its own legislation on the matter.

Dozens of new protests took place this Saturday for the second consecutive day after Friday’s sentence. The overwhelming majority were peaceful, although police fired tear gas at protesters in Phoenix, Arizona, and rioting groups dispersed demonstrations in downtown Los Angeles.

Protesters are not only protesting the abortion decision but also because they fear that the court, which has an ultra-conservative majority thanks to the three Trump-appointed judges, will continue to repeal rights that have been fought for decades, such as self-sex marriage. contraception, laws against discrimination and against climate change.

The abortion sentence is already having consequences in the country because it has triggered “trigger” clauses in the states that were ready to repeal it and could not because of the constitutional limit.

Village, already divided Since the days of President Donald Trump, today we are experiencing a new polarization between the states that already limit or prohibit the right to abortion and those that keep it.

polarized country

A few hours after the ruling of the Court, eleven states have imposed or formalized a total ban: Kentucky, Louisiana, South Dakota, Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Alabama, North Dakota, Utah, and Wisconsin.

In the coming weeks it could be the turn of 12 more states, including Texas, to move towards a total ban or more restrictions as announced by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who seeks to lower the allowable limit from 24 to 15 weeks, too. in case of rape or incest.

In total, there are more than 26 million women of reproductive age living in these areas who may be forced to relocate to another state where abortion is allowed.

For Biden, “a tragic mistake”

President Biden called the court’s decision a “tragic mistake” stemming from “extremist ideology” and said on Saturday that the decision was “painful and devastating”.

“We will defend the reproductive rights of American women,” she added when she signed this Saturday.

Also, assured that his administration take concrete measures to protect reproductive rights of women, including guaranteeing access to abortion pills and protecting the right to travel from one state to another to undergo termination of pregnancy.

In November there are legislative elections and Biden knows that abortion can be an issue that mobilizes the most progressive foundations, in elections where the Democrats are complicated by the economy and inflation.

Much of the business world has also spoken out against the measure. Some companies try to contain the damage it can cause to their staff.

Disney, Apple and JP Morgan Chase, Amazon, Meta, Netflix, Starbucks, CitiGroup, Conde Nast, Microsoft, among others, will cover the costs of employees who have to travel out of their home state to terminate a pregnancy.

From the world of sport they also protested: “Are we in a democracy where guns have more rights than women?”, Asks the Women’s Professional Basketball League today.

Footballer Megan Rapinoe, captain of the national football team and advocate for women’s rights, said: “I cannot underestimate how sad and cruel it is. The point is cruelty, because this is in no way pro-life. “

Tennis player Billie Jean King, another feminist icon, and basketball star Sue Bird also expressed their displeasure. Even star LeBron James assured that “our country is moving in the wrong direction”.

Washington, correspondent

CB