The US Supreme Court has ended the right to abortion by overturning its 49-year-old landmark Roe v Wade verdict, which legalized abortion across the country. The court upheld a Mississippi law, which bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. After the new ruling, it's now up to the 50 states' governments to take a decision on abortion rights.
Justice Samuel Alito wrote that abortion presents a profound moral question. "The Constitution does not prohibit the citizens of each State from regulating or prohibiting abortion. Roe and Casey arrogated that authority. We now overrule those decisions and return that authority to the people and their elected representatives," wrote Justice Alito.
States Now Have Freedom To Ban Abortion
Recently, a leak from the Supreme Court suggested that the apex court could overrun the Roe V. Wade verdict. Friday's decision could lead to abortion bans in nearly half of the states in the country.
Alito also pointed out that Roe and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the 1992 decision that reaffirmed the right to abortion, were wrong the days they were decided and must be overturned.
Joining Alito were Thomas and Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett. The latter three justices are Trump appointees. Thomas first voted to overrule Roe 30 years ago, according to AP News.
Biden Says Decision Is Taking America Back 150 Years
Alito also underlined that the authority to regulate abortion rests with the political branches.
Pro-abortion activists welcomed the decision while, and anti-abortionists are expressing anger over the verdict.
President Joe Biden has urged protestors to remain peaceful and called on Congress to protect abortion rights.
He also noted that Supreme Court's decision is taking America back 150 years. "The court laid out state laws criminalizing abortion that go back to the 1800s of rationale. The court is literally taking America back 150 years. It's a sad day for the country, in my view," said Biden.
Meanwhile, Disney and Tesla have announced that they will provide travel costs for employees seeking reproductive care.
Attorney General Merrick Garland underlined that Justice Department will work tirelessly to protect and advance reproductive freedom. He also said in a statement that "we stand ready to work with other arms of the federal government that seek to use their lawful authorities to protect and preserve access to reproductive care. In particular, the FDA has approved the use of the medication Mifepristone."
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