US braces for violence after shock Supreme Court abortion ruling on Roe v Wade

Celebrities, sports stars and the US President have spoken out against the US Supreme Court’s ‘terrifying’ ruling to erase women’s right to terminate a pregnancy as law enforcement braces for clashes.

US President Joe Biden has spoken out against the US Supreme Court decision to remove womens’ constitutional right to abortion while celebrities have taken to social media to react to the “terrifying” landmark ruling that has the country bracing for violence.

Mr Biden called the decision a “sad day” for the court and for the United States and extended his criticism to former president Donald Trump who appointed three of the justices who voted to erase the federal law.

Singer Taylor Swift tweeted she was “absoutely terrified” by the decision and shared a statement by former US first lady Michelle Obama.

Barbra Streisand labelled the Supreme Court “the American Taliban”, actor Elizabeth Banks called out “the right to carry a handgun” while Oscar winners Viola Davis and Halle Berry expressed their disappointment with Berry labelling the ruling “a war on women”.

My thoughts on the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. pic.twitter.com/9ALSbapHDY

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) June 24, 2022

The landmark decision overturns the 1973 “Roe v Wade” ruling that codified the right to an abortion into federal law.

The 5-4 vote effectively places the lawmaking power to the individual legislatures of the US’s 50 states, with pro-abortion advocates worrying that some will use that power to limit or ban the practice entirely.

Authorities are bracing for unrest amid fears activists taking to the streets to protest or celebrate the highly-combustible issue could clash with police or each other.

Anti- and pro-abortion advocates face off outside the US Supreme Court. Picture: AFP

The Court uses religious dogma to overturn the constitutional right to abortion. This Court is the American Taliban.

— Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) June 24, 2022

Militant pro-abortion groups like Jane’s Revenge have urged sympathisers to unleash a “Summer of Rage” across the country.

“Now the leash is off,” the group said in anticipation of the court’s action. “We have demonstrated in the past month how easy and fun it is to attack.”

Fencing and police have been stationed around the Supreme Court in Washington DC, which was the site of protests when a draft of the decision was leaked earlier this year.

Everybody gets a gun but nobody gets bodily autonomy. America.

— Elizabeth Banks (@ElizabethBanks) June 24, 2022

Abortion rights demonstrators protest in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. Picture: AFP

Security has protected the court’s nine justices since the leak, with police arresting a heavily armed man allegedly attempting to assonate Justice Brett Kavanaugh at his family home on June 8.

“The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion; Roe and Casey are overruled; and the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives,” the court said.

In the majority opinion, Justice Samuel Alito said “abortion presents a profound moral issue on which Americans hold sharply conflicting views.

“The Constitution does not prohibit the citizens of each State from regulating or prohibiting abortion,” he said.

And so it goes….Gutted. Now more than ever we have to use our voice and power! WE the people……🙏🏿🙏🏿https://t.co/8gFi0AbNSQ

— Viola Davis (@violadavis) June 24, 2022

Anti- and pro-abortion activists gather outside the US Supreme Court after the overturning of Roe v Wade. Picture: AFP

Pro-abortion activists chant during a rally in front of the Supreme Court. Picture: AFP.

And so it goes….Gutted. Now more than ever we have to use our voice and power! WE the people……🙏🏿🙏🏿https://t.co/8gFi0AbNSQ

— Viola Davis (@violadavis) June 24, 2022

The US Supreme Court Building is barricaded in anticipation of unrest following the ruling. Picture: AFP.

Dissenting were justices, appointed by left wing presidents, who said the ruling could lead to state law criminalising women and jailing any “for daring to seek or obtain an abortion”.

The ruling will likely set into motion a cavalcade of new laws in roughly half of the 50 US states that will restrict, ban or criminalise abortions.

Women would be able get abortions by travelling to other states that permit the procedure.

The opinion ruled that the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision was not constitutional. It largely mirrors his draft opinion that was the subject of an extraordinary leak in early May, sparking demonstrations around the country and tightened security at the court in downtown Washington.

Demonstrators protest in front of the US Supreme Court. Picture: AFP

Demonstrators protest in front of the US Supreme Court. Picture: AFP

The case before the court was a Mississippi law that would restrict abortion to 15 weeks but during the hearing of the case in December several justices indicated they were prepared to go further.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, 13 states have adopted so-called “trigger laws” that will ban abortion following the move by the Supreme Court.

Ten others have pre-1973 laws that could go into force or legislation that would ban abortion after six weeks, before many women even know they are pregnant.

Just hours after the decision, the midwestern state of Missouri banned abortion without exception.

Women living in states with strict anti-abortion laws will either have to continue with their pregnancy, obtain abortion pills, or travel to another state where the procedure remains legal.

US President Joe Biden called for protests to remain peaceful, fearing there would be ‘intimidation’ as a result of the decision. Picture: AFP

Several Democratic-ruled states, anticipating an influx, have taken steps to facilitate abortion and clinics have also shifted their resources.

Former US president Donald Trump, who appointed three of the justices on the court - giving it the majority for the ruling - said “God made the decision”.

“This is following the Constitution, and giving rights back when they should have been given long ago,” Trump told Fox News.

In a later statement, Trump took direct credit for decision, which he said came “because I delivered everything as promised”, including three Supreme Court justices..

“I did not cave to the Radical Left Democrats, their partners in the Fake News Media, or the RINOs who are likewise the true, but silent, enemy of the people,” he said.

US president Joe Biden addressed the nation from the White House, said Trump’s Supreme Court appointments were “at the core” of the decision.

“It just stuns me,” he said.

“I call on everyone, no matter how deeply they care about this decision to keep all protests peaceful, peaceful, peaceful - no intimidation,” he added. “This decision must not be the final word... This is not over.”

Originally published as US braces for violence after shock Supreme Court abortion ruling on Roe v Wade