[New York Diary] "Leave My Body Alone" U.S. in Turmoil Over Abortion Rights Repeal

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] "Leave my body alone." "Her body, her rights, her choice."

On the 24th (local time), when the U.S. Supreme Court officially overturned the so-called 'Roe v. Wade' ruling that guaranteed women's abortion rights, guerrilla protests continued late into the night near Times Square in Manhattan, New York. Citizens holding placards appeared in various places, repeatedly condemning the Supreme Court's decision and then dispersing. Although New York, where the Democratic Party that supports abortion rights is strong, is considered a representative area unaffected by this ruling's repeal, numerous citizens poured into the streets simultaneously to raise their voices. In the comedy 'POTUS' currently performing on Broadway, a standing ovation erupted as soon as a line about abortion rights was delivered. Ultimately, the performance had to be interrupted midway that day.

The entire United States is in turmoil over abortion rights. This is because the Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade ruling, which legalized abortion for women up to six months of pregnancy, after about 50 years. From now on, the decision on whether to maintain or abolish abortion rights will be transferred to the authority of each state government and legislature. Within the U.S., the judgment on whether abortion is permitted varies by state, creating a delicate situation. The U.S. is also seen divided into two over the sharply opposing progressive and conservative camps regarding abortion rights. On Twitter, the hashtag #sexstrike is also spreading.

At a protest held on Saturday the 25th at Union Square in Manhattan, New York, Caroline Hill criticized the lack of respect for women's self-determination rights. Maya Demery, a sexual assault victim, questioned, "What if pregnancy results from rape?" The abortion rights organization Planned Parenthood estimates that about 36 million women of childbearing age will be deprived of abortion rights due to this ruling.

On the same day, seven windows were broken at the Vermont Statehouse, and a spray-painted message reading "If abortion is not safe, neither are you" was left on the building's front. Vermont Lieutenant Governor Molly Gray condemned the property damage but mentioned, "Residents feel deep anger and frustration over the Supreme Court ruling the day before." The New York Times (NYT), in an editorial from its editorial board, criticized, "Abortion, which is a fundamental right, is not a power that state governments and legislatures can handle," and also pointed out the irrationality that abortion regulations differ by region within the U.S. for all pregnant women.

On the other hand, abortion prohibition advocates unanimously welcomed the Supreme Court's ruling. Former President Donald Trump, who has advocated for abortion bans, appeared on Fox News and said, "It is following the Constitution and restoring rights that should have been done long ago." Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of the Republican Party also welcomed it as a "historic victory for the Constitution and society's most vulnerable."

Some states have immediately enacted abortion bans. The Associated Press reported that right after the ruling, hospitals in Alabama, Oklahoma, Arizona, Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, South Dakota, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Louisiana began suspending abortion surgeries one after another. Many of these states are applying laws containing 'trigger clauses' that allow abortion regulations to be enforced upon the Supreme Court overturning existing precedents.

The Guttmacher Institute, an abortion rights organization in the U.S., predicts that 26 out of the 50 states, including those with such trigger clauses, will effectively ban abortion. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton decided to take a day off on the day of the Supreme Court ruling and announced plans to make it an annual holiday.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

As abortion regulations vary by state, it is expected that women who are currently pregnant will immediately travel to states where abortion is permitted for out-of-state procedures. There are also concerns that those unable to access such procedures will resort to illegal, unlicensed abortions in back alleys.

Marilyn Michaels, an 80-year-old resident of Georgia, told the NYT about the dangerous situation she experienced undergoing an illegal abortion in 1956, long before the Roe v. Wade ruling in 1973, saying, "Illegal abortions are happening, and women will die." This is a warning that women living in areas where abortion is banned will rely on illegal abortions that could threaten their lives.

There is also a high possibility of legal disputes over whether individuals can cross state lines for abortion. In the southern region, it is even suggested that crossing national borders might occur. The Mexican civic group 'Necesito AbortAr,' which assists with abortions, reportedly has been flooded with inquiries from American women on social media.

With the midterm elections coming up in November, abortion laws are emerging as an election issue, and political debates are expected to intensify further. In the U.S., following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, existing Supreme Court rulings related to same-sex marriage and contraception may also be affected. Conservative Justice Clarence Thomas stated in a concurring opinion on the Supreme Court ruling the day before, "In the future, we must reconsider precedents including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell." These are Supreme Court precedents recognizing contraception, same-sex marriage, and same-sex sexual relations, respectively.

Emily, originally from Louisiana where abortion was outlawed and currently living in New York, said immediately after the Supreme Court ruling, "It is devastating to overturn the right to self-determination to decide one's own body and life," calling it "shocking." Stevie Miller, living in Cincinnati, expressed concern ahead of the June Pride Month parade, saying, "Next, it's us."

Internationally, the abolition of abortion rights is criticized as depriving individual decision-making rights and a regression of human rights. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and French President Emmanuel Macron all expressed similar positions. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) also issued a statement warning that restricting or banning abortion could seriously threaten the health and lives of pregnant women.

Major U.S. companies such as JPMorgan Chase, Apple, H&M, and Bank of America (BoA) are also lining up to support costs for out-of-state procedures to guarantee abortion rights for employees in states where abortion is banned.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.