Abortion clinics close after Supreme Court ruling on Roe v Wade

Photo Credit: AP.

A number of abortion clinics have begun closing in a some US states following the decision of the Supreme Court Friday to overturn the landmark Roe v Wade precedent which allowed women unprecedented access to abortion.

No fewer than half of US states may introduce new restrictions or outright bans after the court ruling which reversed its 50-year-old decision.

13 states reportedly have so-called trigger laws in place that will see abortion banned within 30 days, according to the BBC.

Mr Biden said the ruling was a sad day for the country and urged women who reside in states that ban the procedure to travel to other states where the procedure is allowed.

Police fired tear gas after pro-choice protesters banged on the doors and windows of the state capitol in Phoenix, Arizona, according to the BBC. Protesters also reportedly blocked traffic on a highway in Los Angeles.

According to the BBC, at an abortion clinic in Little Rock, Arkansas, doors to the patient area shot as soon as the court’s decision was posted online. Staff made calls to inform women that their appointments were cancelled. Arkansas has so-called trigger law which allows instant ban should Roe v Wade be overturned.

"No matter how hard we prepare for bad news, when it finally hits, it hits hard. Having to call these patients and tell them Roe v Wade was overturned is heartbreaking," nurse Ashli Hunt told the BBC.

Anti-abortion protesters celebrated the decision outside the clinic.

"You are on notice!" shouted a protester at people still parking their cars at the clinic who had not heard about the decision yet, according to the BBC. "My suggestion is for you turn around and leave this place of sin, this place of inequity, this evil place."

 

In New Orleans, Louisiana, a so-called trigger law state, the Women’s Health Care Centre, one of only three abortion providers in the state was also closed, according to the BBC.

A research from Planned Parenthood, a healthcare organization that provides abortions suggested that 36 million women of reproductive age will lose access to abortion in their states.

Photo Credit: AP.

Trigger laws in states such as Kentucky, Louisiana, Arkansas, South Dakota, Missouri, Oklahoma and Alabama have already been applied, according the BBC. While bans in Mississippi and North Dakota will come into effect after their attorney generals approve it.

The ban in Wyoming will take effect after five days following the ruling while that of Utah must be certified by a legislative council.

In Idaho, Tennessee and Texas, bans will be applied in 30 days.

According to the BBC, a recent Pew survey found that 61$ of adults say abortion should be legal all or most of the time, while 37% say it should be illegal all or most of the time.

In Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin where opinions on abortion are closely split, the legality of the procedure could be determined on an election-by-election basis. Legal battles are expected in other states following the ruling.