The US Supreme Court overturns the landmark Roe v Wade decision, lifting nearly five decades of abortion access in the country. In 6-3 votes, the conservative-dominated supreme court rules that the US Constitution “does not grant the right to abortion”. Reproductive rights advocates say millions of people in the US have lost access to abortion services. US President Joe Biden says the Supreme Court decision is a “sad day” for the nation.
Here are all the latest updates:
5 minutes ago (16:45 GMT)
Biden says his administration will defend the right to travel for abortion
Biden has pledged to support the right of American women to travel to US states to access abortion services.
“If any state or local official tries to intervene…I will do everything I can to counter that deeply un-American attack,” Biden said.
US President Joe Biden condemned Supreme Court’s abortion decision [Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters]
10 minutes ago (16:40 GMT)
‘Sad day’ for the United States, says President Joe Biden
US President Joe Biden has told the Supreme Court’s decision to annul Roe v Wade is “a sad day for the court and the country”.
“The health and lives of women in this country are now at stake,” Biden said.
“State laws prohibiting abortion will automatically come into effect today, endangering the health of millions of women.”
12 minutes ago (16:38 GMT)
Decision ‘especially dangerous’ for religious minorities: Muslim lawyers
Muslim Advocates, a US civil rights group, has raised the alarm over the Supreme Court’s decision, saying it is “particularly dangerous for those belonging to minority religions such as Islam”.
“How far the court will go down this road is not certain, but the rise of anti-Muslim government acts such as the Muslim ban and the state’s adoption of anti-Sharia law has shown that Muslims are particularly targeted by those moved by paranoia. And misrepresentation,” the group said.
“When that paranoia is combined with state power, the results could be devastating to the civil and human rights of all Muslims in this country.”
20 minutes ago (16:30 GMT)
In Their Words: The U.S. Supreme Court Justices’ Reports on Abortion
Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett, and Chief Justice John Roberts voted favor of Friday’s decision.
The judges have had a lot to say about abortion in recent years.
Could you view some of their comments here?
25 minutes ago (16:25 GMT)
US Attorney General says Justice Department disagrees with the decision
US Attorney General Merrick Garland has said the Justice Department “completely disagrees” with the Supreme Court’s ruling.
“This decision is a devastating blow to reproductive freedom in the United States,” Garland said in a statement, but emphasized that the decision “does not preclude states’ ability to keep abortion within their borders legally.”
“We recognize that traveling for reproductive care is not feasible in many circumstances. But under fundamental constitutional principles, women living in states that have banned access to comprehensive reproductive care should remain free to seek that care in states where it is legal. In addition, under the fundamental principles of the First Amendment, individuals should remain free to inform and advise each other about the reproductive care available in other states,” he said.
29 minutes ago (16:21 GMT)
Poor, marginalized will be most affected: Progressive Democrats
Abortion care IS health care. It was before that. And it will remain so after this.
We don’t care what a far-right extremist Supreme Court says is in a legitimacy crisis. Your racist, sexist, classist statement will not prevent us from accessing the care we need.
— Cori Bush (@CoriBush) June 24, 2022
Overthrowing Roe and banning abortions will never make them go away.
It just makes them more dangerous, especially for the poor + marginalized.
People will die because of this decision. And we will never stop until abortion rights are restored in the United States of America.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 24, 2022
31 minutes ago (16:19 GMT)
What happens if women are denied access to abortion?
When Ann walked into her doctor’s office six years ago, she expected to schedule an abortion. Instead, the college graduate in her early 20s learned she was between 23 and 25 weeks pregnant. With the California border at about six months, she was rejected.
“I was told outright there was no other option,” Ann, whose name has been changed for privacy reasons, told Al Jazeera. “I remember crying, panting. It was life-changing news that I didn’t expect to get.”
Without access to the abortion she wanted, she carried the pregnancy to term. After eight months, she developed severe eclampsia, had seizures, and nearly died. “Where we go as a country with access to abortion,” she said, “more people will be like me.”
Read more here.
34 minutes ago (16:16 GMT)
Twenty-six US states ‘certainly or probably’ to ban abortion: Guttmacher
Twenty-six US states are “certain or likely” to ban abortion now that Roe has been rolled back, the reproductive rights group at the Guttmacher Institute has said.
“Without Roe, 26 states are certain or likely to ban abortion as far as possible, including 13 states that have ‘trigger’ laws that automatically ban them — some within days or even hours of today’s decision,” Herminia Palacio, the group’s president, and CEO said in a statement.
“Decades of research consistently show that abortion bans and restrictions do not reduce unintended pregnancy or demand for abortion, and they certainly do not help people improve their health.”
For years we knew destroying #RoeVWade would be devastating. More than ever, we must fight for the dignity and autonomy of all people. Statement from our President and CEO @HerminiaPalacio: https://t.co/3DVR6zg8f5 #AbortionIsEssential #BansOffOurBodies pic.twitter.com/dFKBzfXWuS
— Guttmacher Institute (@Guttmacher) June 24, 2022
55 minutes ago (15:55 GMT)
‘Catastrophe’: Rights Groups Reject Supreme Court Ruling
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other rights groups have rejected the decision, saying millions of people in the US will no longer have access to abortion.
“Today’s decision is a gender, racial, and economic justice catastrophe with deadly consequences. Women and people of childbearing potential have been forced into second-class status,” the ACLU said on Twitter.
“Today marks a grim milestone in United States history,” Amnesty International USA’s Tarah Demant also said. “Millions of people of childbearing potential in the United States now face a future where they will not be able to make profound personal choices that affect their bodies, their future, and the well-being of their families.”
1 hour ago (15:48 GMT)
‘Radical Supreme Court’ jeopardizes Americans’ rights: Pelosi
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has condemned the Supreme Court decision and said the health and safety of people in the US are at risk.
“This morning, the radical Supreme Court is looting the rights of Americans, endangering their health and safety. But Congress will continue to act to overcome this extremism and protect the American people,” Pelosi told reporters.
“Today, the Republican-controlled Supreme Court has reached its murky, extreme goal to take away women’s right to make their own decisions about reproductive health.”
1 hour ago (15:44 GMT)
Anti-abortion activists celebrate at the highest court in Washington, DC
Anti-abortion activists have gathered to celebrate the Supreme Court’s decision to quash Roe v Wade. The crowd erupted into cheers as news of the verdict spread.
“I’m ecstatic,” said Emma Craig, 36, of Pro-Life San Francisco.
“Abortion is the greatest tragedy of our generation, and in 50 years, we will look back with shame on the 50 years we have been under Roe v Wade.”
A party outside the Supreme Court, June 24, 2022 [Steve Helber/AP Photo]
1 hour ago (15:35 GMT)
US Supreme Court overturns Roe v Wade
The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, the landmark ruling that granted the right to abortion in the United States for nearly five decades.
In a decision released Friday, the nation’s highest court ruled in a Mississippi case that “the Constitution does not grant the right to abortion.” The judges voted 6-3, powered by the court’s conservative supermajority.
Read the full decision here (pdf).
Hello and welcome to Al Jazeera’s live coverage of the US Supreme Court decision to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe Wade abortion ruling.
