Conservative US states begin to roll back abortion laws

OKLAHOMA repealed abortion laws yesterday as conservative-led states banked on support from the US Supreme Court.

Republican Governor Kevin Stitt signed a Texas-style ban yesterday for abortions any later than six weeks of pregnancy, a day after leaked draft opinion from America’s highest court revealed it wants to overturn the landmark Roe v Wade decision that legalised abortion in the US nearly 50 years ago.

‘I want Oklahoma to be the most pro-life state in the country,’ said Mr Stitt after signing the Bill.

The Supreme Court leak has galvanised an already fierce debate and there were scuffles as protests across the country became heated.

In Los Angeles, rocks and bottles were thrown at police officers following a march by 250 people supporting abortion rights.

About 1,000 people gathered outside the Supreme Court in Washington and smaller protests were held in Georgia, Texas and New York.

The legislation in Oklahoma takes effect immediately because the state’s own supreme court denied an emergency request to temporarily halt the Bill. Abortion providers in the state said they will immediately stop providing services for women after six weeks of pregnancy.

President Joe Biden has pledged to fight any attempt to weaken women’s access to abortion, saying it is their ‘fundamental’ right.

The 1973 Supreme Court case Roe v Wade declared abortion to be a constitutionally protected right.

However, if it is swept aside, abortion legislation will depend on individual states.