The end of Roe v. Wade

Islam News – The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on Friday, ending the constitutional right to an abortion after almost 50 years. The decision, expected after a draft opinion leaked in May, sent a seismic social and political shock through American life.

Roe’s fall immediately triggered abortion bans; nine states now ban the procedure in most cases. More than 20 states appear set to outlaw all or nearly all abortions. More liberal states responded by seeking to protect the procedure for their residents and out-of-state patients.

Cities around the U.S. erupted in protest — and celebration. Almost immediately, abortion providers began canceling appointments out of fear of prosecution. Demand for medical abortion pills quickly soared, and will likely become the next frontier of the fight.

Resources: Here are live updates and an explainer.

Background: The decision is the culmination of a generational conservative campaign. Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the majority opinion, had laid out a methodical strategy decades ago to overturn the landmark ruling.

Outcome: Roe’s fall will likely reduce abortion access most for lower-income women and Black and Hispanic women who lack resources to travel to obtain one.

Source: The New York Times