US court takes away women's rights

The US Supreme Court has handed down a decision which overturns the constitutional right to abortion. Demonstrations erupted around the country to protest this overturning of legal precedent, which has been denounced by international organisations.

Despite the court's landmark 1973 'Roe vs Wade' judgement ruling 7-2 that abortion was a constitutional right, the new 6-3 ruling strips this away, leaving abortion's legal status in the hands of individual states.

Many states had 'trigger laws' waiting to be applied the moment the judgement was overturned, which often make abortion illegal under any circumstances, including following rape, incest or with life-threatening ectopic pregnancies.

Brandy Michaud expressed her disbelief.

Brandy Michaud: "It's insane. We pretty much went back 100 years with this 'Roe vs Wade' overruled. It's insane that we have to continue fighting for this."

Other states are extending abortion rights to those out of state, with funds like those New York state governor Kathy Hochul has announced.

Kathy Hochul: "The rights are secure here in the State of New York. We took action already. We allocated $35 million to support our abortion providers to be able to help our sisters across this nation find their way here. This is their safe harbour."

US Vice President Kamala Harris considered the Supreme Court's decision a dangerous move. It risks not only a healthcare crisis, but undermines a deeper principle of individual rights in society.

Kamala Harris: "This is the first time in the history of our nation that a constitutional right has been taken from the people of America. And what is that right some might ask. It's the right to privacy. Think about it as the right for each person to make intimate decisions about heart and home."

Seemingly one of the most contentious issues in US politics, around 85 percent of Americans consistently support abortion rights in some or all cases according to polling data. Nevertheless, the court's decision has raised the likelihood of increased tensions between the two sides of the debate.

Many hold grave concerns that this is the first salvo in a campaign by the Supreme Court justices to curtail their freedoms, as Andrew Reisman explains.

Andrew Reisman: "Because women's rights are human rights. And this decision is the first in a long line of decisions that's going to strip every single right from every single one of us." View Less