There are usually only exceptions for medical emergencies. A number of liberal states, on the other hand, declared that they wanted to continue protecting the right to abortion. The US Supreme Court published its decision on Friday. The mostly conservative Supreme Court thus paved the way for stricter abortion laws – up to and including complete bans.
Some states had prepared prohibition laws in the event of a different jurisdiction – so-called trigger laws. In some states they will now take effect immediately, in others it will take about a month. Some states require formal endorsement from the attorney general or governor. Several abortion clinics have already closed.
First US states ban abortion
On Saturday there were renewed protests in front of the Supreme Court in Washington DC. As early as Friday, thousands of people had spontaneously protested the verdict in several major US cities, including the capital Washington, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Austin, Denver and Philadelphia. Demonstrators held up signs reading “My rapist has more rights than I do” and chanted slogans such as “Abortion is a human right.” More demonstrations are likely to follow in the coming days.
Confidence in the Supreme Court at a record low
The question of the right to an abortion, which conservatives and right-wingers have always countered with the slogan “right to life”, has long since become a key social issue in the USA that goes beyond the topic itself, creating and perpetuating two seemingly insurmountable camps. A clear majority of the population supports the right to an abortion. The Supreme Court’s decision also dropped confidence in the Supreme Court to an all-time low of just 25 percent, NPR reported.
No federal regulation
There is no federal law in the United States that allows or prohibits abortion. However, abortions were permitted at least until the fetus was viable – around the 24th week. This was ensured by two judgments by the US Supreme Court, which have now been overturned. Now the US states can decide on abortion rights. Abortion is now likely to be severely restricted or banned in around half of the states.
In many states, such as Missouri and Oklahoma, doctors who perform abortions now face lengthy prison terms. On the other hand, the governors from California, Oregon, Washington, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York, among others, professed their liberal attitude towards abortions. Women can now theoretically travel to these states to have an abortion. However, many cannot afford it.
Corporations want to bear the costs
Several US companies, including Amazon, Starbucks and Disney, have already announced that they will reimburse employees for travel expenses if necessary. How this is supposed to work in practice – who wants to tell their employer that they are going to have an abortion – is of course unclear. It is feared that more and more women will try to have an abortion themselves.
President Biden, speaking with his wife Jill at the White House on Saturday, said: “Jill and I know how painful and devastating this decision is for so many Americans.”
Important issue in the election campaign
Biden’s Democrats would like to legislate abortion rights nationwide. But they lack the necessary votes in Congress. Democrats want to make the issue a key part of the campaign for November’s congressional elections. According to surveys, however, the Democrats will have to take significant losses – for example because of inflation.
While liberals reacted with horror to the verdict, many conservatives celebrated the decision. Ex-US President Donald Trump called the decision a “win for life”. His Vice President at the time, Mike Pence, called on anti-abortion advocates to campaign for ruptures to be banned in all states.