What is happening in America regarding the abortion law?

Update June 24, 2022: the American Supreme Court has overturned the national right to abortion.

You've probably seen something about it in the news or on social media in the past few days: there's quite a bit of fuss surrounding abortion legislation in America. In fact, it might completely disappear. Yep, 1800 called and they want their laws back. How is it possible that women in 2022 in a Western country like America are not in control of their own bodies?

The right to abortion was established in the United States in 1973, in the famous Roe vs. Wade case. Now, nearly 30 years later, this seems to be getting reversed. And this was set in motion during the period when Donald Trump — unfortunately — was president. This man was vehemently against abortion and would only appoint judges who would not support the Roe vs. Wade case. Three new judges were appointed to the American Supreme Court. This American Supreme Court drafted a preliminary version of new legislation, in which the abortion law is reversed across America. This draft then leaked.

This proposal already received a majority of votes. The Roe vs. Wade case is also receiving enormous criticism, just like the Planned Parenthood vs. Casey case from 1992, in which the right to abortion was affirmed. The judge who drafted this preliminary version received support from four other judges; all appointed by Republicans. The American Supreme Court further consists of three liberal judges and a conservative chair… So you understand: this is not very hopeful. A final decision is expected within two months, but the chance is very, very high that performing an abortion will become illegal in America.

Several states are already working on this; this week it was deemed illegal in Oklahoma to have an abortion after six weeks. In Alabama, something similar was already implemented in 2019 when they adopted the strictest possible law in America. This law prohibits having an abortion, even if someone became pregnant due to rape or incest.

No less than thirteen states in America now have a ‘trigger law’ that immediately makes abortions illegal when a state is allowed to determine this itself. The state of Mississippi is currently working hard to overturn the rulings in the cases from 1973 and 1992.

If this law is passed, it means that the right to abortion in America will be abolished. And that will mean that the states themselves can determine how they regulate their abortions, of which at least thirteen will make it illegal and punishable. President Joe Biden promises to oppose this decision; he calls women's freedom of choice ‘fundamental’ and ‘a part of personal freedom.’.

Kamala Harris is also strongly against it: ‘Roe vs. Wade guarantees a woman's right to choose an abortion. Fundamentally, it also protects the fundamental right to privacy. It is clear that opponents want to punish women and take away their right to decide about their own bodies. This is the moment to fight for women and for our country with everything we have.’

I find it disgusting and sickening what is currently happening in the United States. How is it possible that a woman's right can be taken away like this, determined by an American Supreme Court that also has three women sitting in it?! Two of them were appointed by President Obama, the third by Donald Trump. And unfortunately, it seems very likely that the Republicans, partly thanks to Donald Trump, will be the strongest in this.

Is it much better organized in the Netherlands? Absolutely, but there are of course also areas for improvement here. Protests at abortion clinics unfortunately still occur regularly. Just watch the episode of BOOS below. I was very shocked by that; there are also many people in the Netherlands who do not support the right to abortion.