The War on Reproductive Rights

by Kassidy Thomas

News Feature Editor

May 2022

On Monday, May 2nd , supreme court justice Samuel Alito’s majority opinion draft was leaked about the landmark case, Roe v. Wade. Roe v Wade was settled in 1973, nearly 50 years ago. In 1973 Norma McCorvey, alias Jane Roe, was 22 years old seeking an abortion since she already had 2 kids and could not afford another. However, because she lived in Texas she was refused an abortion. This then led to the case we now know. Roe believed that the refusal that was given to her was unfair.

The case ended up going to the supreme court where there was a 7-2 vote in favor of Roe. This case was supposed to be protected by the first, fourth, ninth, and fourteenth amendments. The main right that protected this case was each individual’s right to privacy, therefore making Roe v Wade an umbrella case for other supreme court cases that were settled through the right to privacy.

Even though reproductive rights have still been a major fight throughout these past 50 years, many officials wanted it overturned based on their belief that life begins at conception. While the former president was in office, he was able to replace three supreme court justices and nominated three very conservative anti-choice judges. During each of their hearings, they were asked about the potential overturning of Roe. Many people suspect that all three of them committed perjury during their hearings and said they had no agenda of overturning it.

When hearing about the majority draft it raised many questions about what else the supreme court justices may have lied about. One of them in particular, Amy Coney Barret, is known to be a very religious person and many feared she would not be able to separate her church views and judicial decisions. This was proven when she spoke out saying that abortion is not necessary because there is a “domestic supply of infants”.

Towards the end of 2021 Mississippi brought a case before the supreme court that had intentions of overturning Roe. It is clear they have gotten what they wanted, so far at least. The supreme court voted 5-4 in favor of overturning Roe. In a recent study, about 84% of religiously unaffiliated Americans believe that abortions should be legal. Yet, the supreme court argues that because abortion rights are not specifically mentioned in the Constitution, they cannot be protected.

This is just a draft, though, things may change between now and the middle of summer. Though, from Alito’s writing, it is not promised, “We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled. The constitution makes no reference to abortion, and no such right is implicitly protected by the constitutional provision, including the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.” But what does that mean for everything else that is not specifically mentioned in the Constitution? If Roe is overturned, what more could they ban? And how many more women will die from unsafe abortions? If this is overturned it could mean a step back in women’s rights. The country is divided now more than ever. And if you want to fight for reproductive rights, make sure you donate to planned parenthood or any abortion clinics. Your support for them is crucial in today’s battle.