Published: Less than 30 min ago
Opponents of abortion in the US are now gathering for a giant demonstration in Washington DC.
It is the first major demonstration against abortion after the Supreme Court last year overturned a decision that guaranteed the right to abortion.
The HD judgment from last June concerned the guiding case Roe v. Wade. The decision was made in 1973 and established the woman’s right to abortion with reference to the constitutionally protected right to privacy. The fact that Roe v. Wade has now been overturned means that the issue of abortion rights must be decided at the state level.
Several conservative states have introduced very restrictive abortion laws in the past six months. Liberal states, for their part, have strengthened the right to abortion. US Democratic President Joe Biden said after the HD decision that he will do what is in his political power to legislate federally on abortion rights.
The demonstrators have therefore changed the march route. Instead of passing the Supreme Court, one takes the road past the Capitol congress building.
– It sends a clear signal to members of Congress that federal protection is still needed for unborn children and their mothers, Republican and abortion opponent Marilyn Musgrave told The Washington Post.
Republicans are in the majority in the House of Representatives. There, the first steps have been taken to tighten the rules around abortion. But the Democrats have a majority in the Senate. The issue of abortion rights will polarize Congress in the near future.
Demonstrations against abortion under the slogan “March for life” (roughly “A march for life”) have been held regularly since the HD verdict in 1973. According to media reports, approximately 50,000 demonstrators are expected in Washington DC on Friday.