Overturning Roe v. Wade

On June 24, 2022, in a 6-3 ruling, the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade,  ending nearly 50 years of legislative protection and banning abortion in several states. Justice  Samuel A. Alito Jr. authored the ruling against Roe and stated that abortion was “egregiously  wrong,” supported with “exceptionally weak” arguments, and had “damaging consequences.”  Additionally, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas warned that the overturning would be one  of many rulings and called to reconsider rights to same-sex marriage and access and use of  contraception. The Dobbs v. Jackson case attracted hundreds of demonstrators outside the  Supreme Court both for and against abortion rights. The final decision received dramatically  different responses from pro-life and pro-choice activists and protesters. Pro-life groups erupted  into cheers for the overturning and said they would “work hard to make sure abortion is illegal in  all 50 states.” Pro-choice groups and women nation-wide wept with devastation. One pro-choice  rights protester, Paxton Smith, said to The Washington Post, “I am very afraid for the  world…what we just stepped into, that it’s no longer a matter of ‘can somebody get sued for  having an abortion,’ it’s now ‘can somebody go to prison because they decided not to be forced to  have a child.’” Many other pro-choice protesters stated that they felt the final decision  demolished their human rights. Conversely, pro-life protester Macy Petty said, “I was just really  overwhelmed and thankful…this is an unbelievable act of grace and mercy on this country.” The reversal of Roe led to the complete ban on abortion in twelve states, including Texas  and Idaho. Florida and nine other states put severe restrictions on abortion. Additionally, doctors  that administer abortions will receive a penalty, as well as the receiver of the service.