Thousands march to White House for abortion rights

Washington, July 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) Thousands of people from different walks of life marched to the White House in protest against the US Supreme Court's decision to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that safeguarded women's constitutional right to abortion.

Braving the rain and risking arrest, the protesters on Saturday converged on the White House, with some chanting "we won't go back", while several others tied themselves to the gates outside, the BBC reported.

According to Women's March, the organiser of the protest, some 10,000 people were in attendance on Saturday.

Facing pressure from progressives, President Joe Biden on Friday signed an executive order directing his health department to protect abortion care, including access to medication abortion and emergency contraception, and safeguards for patient privacy.

But the President's power is limited. He cannot force through legislation in Congress and he cannot undo the decision of the Supreme Court, now a 6-3 conservative supermajority.

Due to last month's ruling, some 40 million women of reproductive age across the US are expected to lose access to abortion in the coming weeks.

Abortion has been one of the most divisive issues in the US.

The Supreme Court ruled in 1973 that the US Constitution generally protects the liberty to choose to have an abortion.

But anti-abortion groups have actively sought to have the decision overturned, engaging in legal and public opinion battles with the other side on the issue over the past decades.

Currently, at least nine states have instituted a near-total ban on the procedure, with the only exception being danger to the life of the mother.

Other states are now scrambling to protect abortion access amid legal challenges, while abortion clinics are struggling to navigate patchworks of new laws.

Source: IANS