Roe v. Wade: Pro-choice activists ‘livid’ after U.S. Supreme Court draft leak – National

Thousands of pro-choice activists are expressing outrage at reports of a leaked draft opinion suggesting the US Supreme Court could overturn the landmark. Roe v. Wade nationwide legalization of abortion in the United States

The fury began Monday night when news agency Politico reported a draft majority opinion showing the court had voted to overturn the Roe v. Wade case.

A decision to handle the case could lead to abortion bans in about half of the US and could cause huge distractions for this year’s US elections.

However, it is not clear whether the draft is the final decision of the court as opinions often change during the drafting of the ruling.

“We are appalled, saddened and saddened,” activist group Women’s March said on Twitter Monday night.

“If you are too, now is the time to come out and show them our movement won’t back down in defending our reproductive rights.”

The group, which founded the Women’s March protests in 2017 after the election of former president Donald Trump, also called for abortion rights protests at “5 p.m., your local time.” .

“We’re calling Women’s March supporters across the nation to your local federal courthouse, federal building, town hall or town square,” the group said in a statement. an online petition.

“Bringing your family, your sign, your story, your heart, and your commitment to saving Roe and accessing safe and legal abortion for all who need it.”

Whatever the outcome, the Politico report reveals an extremely rare breach of the court’s confidential deliberation process and of a key case.

“Roe was gravely wrong from the start,” the draft opinion piece stated in part. It was signed by Justice Samuel Alito, a member of the court’s 6-3 conservative majority, who was appointed by former President George W. Bush.

The document is labeled as “Draft 1st” by “Court Opinion” in a case challenging Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban, a case known as Dobbs v. Jackson Women, The Associated Press reported.

The court is expected to rule on the case before its deadline ends in late June or early July.

Hundreds of anti-abortion and pro-abortion activists took to the streets of Washington late Monday to react to the news.

“The first line in the draft is that this is an ethical issue,” Annie McDonnell, 19, a student at George Washington University, said in an interview with Reuters.

“If it’s an ethical issue, you shouldn’t deprive us of our choice.”

The unprecedented leak sent shockwaves across the United States.

“This decision is a direct attack on the dignity, rights and lives of women, not to mention decades of settlement law,” former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said.

“It will kill and subdue women even if the vast majority of Americans think abortion is legal. What a complete disgrace.”

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Christian conservatives and many Republicans have long sought to overturn Roe v. Wade, a 7-2 ruling dating back to 1973.

Plaintiff Jane Roe, later identified as Norma McCorvey, was an unmarried pregnant woman who could not have an abortion under Texas law, where it is illegal to save the mother’s life.

Roe’s attorneys said she couldn’t get out of state to get an abortion, and argued that the law was too vague and infringed on her constitutional rights.

The anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony List welcomed the reported news.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony List, said: “If Roe is indeed ousted, our job will be to build consensus for the strongest possible safeguards for children. unborn children and women in every legislature.”

– with files from the Associated Press and Reuters