Roe v. Wade, one
of the most emblematic judgements in United States history, may be on its way to be
overturned. A draft opinion of the US Supreme Court, leaked and published by
POLITICO, seeks to do away with the 1973 judgement that effectively legalised
abortion. While the Supreme Court and the White House have refused to comment
on the draft, anti-abortion activists who call themselves pro-life and pro-choice
activists have taken to the streets in celebration and in protest.

Also Read | A new America: What happens if Roe v Wade falls

Hours after the
news broke, anti-abortion activists were out on the streets chanting, “hey hey ho
ho, Roe v. Wade has got to go.” Pro-choice activists, on the other hand,
chanted, “Abortion is healthcare.” For nearly half a century, abortion has been
one of the most politically divisive issues in the United States that has often
cut clearly along political lines.

Also Read | Explained: What does Texas’ data on abortions say about law?

Nearly 59% of all
US adults believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases while 39% think
it should be illegal in all or more cases, according to a 2021 report by the
Pew Research Center. “Abortion presents a profound moral question. The Constitution
does not prohibit the citizens of each state from regulating or prohibiting
abortion,” the draft opinion states.

The Democrat
view

Hilary Clinton,
former US Secretary of State, said, “The decision is a direct assault on the
dignity, rights & lives of women, not to mention decades of settled law. It
will kill and subjugate women as a vast majority of Americans think abortion
should be legal. What an utter disgrace.”

Chuck Schumer,
Senate majority leader, and Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the US House of
Representatives, said: “The Republican appointed Justices’ reported votes to
overturn Roe v. Wade would go down as an abomination, one of the worst and most
damaging decisions in modern history.”   

Bernie Sanders,
Independent Senator and presidential nominee, said, “Congress must pass
legislation that codifies Roe v. Wader as the law of the land in this country
NOW.”

The
Conservative view

Ken Paxton, Texas’
Republican Attorney General, said, “I hope that SCOTUS returns the question of
abortion where it belongs: the States. This is why I led a 24-state coalition
in support of MS’s law banning them after 15 wks. I’ll con’t to ensure that TX
protects the unborn & pray for the end of abortion across our nation.”

Tom Cotton, a
Republican Senator, said, “The Supreme Court & the DOJ must get to the
bottom of this leak immediately using every investigative tool necessary. In
the meantime, Roe was egregiously wrong from the beginning & I pray the
Court follows the Constitution & allows the states to once again protect
unborn life.”

Josh Hawley,
another Republican Senator, said, “The left continues its assault on the
Supreme Court with an unprecedented breach of confidentiality, clearly meant to
intimidate. The Justices mustn’t give in to this attempt to corrupt the
process. Stay strong.”