About the Contributor
Katrell Readus, Opinion Editor
Katrell is a senior at FHS. They are an overthinker who enjoys listening to music and writing poetry when they are not too focused on their upcoming article.
Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling overturns precedent set by Roe v. Wade.
Ostentatious overturning
Reversal of fundamental rights threatens safety.
June 25, 2022
Katrell Readus is a junior and the Opinion Editor for the Fishers Tiger Times. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper.
The overturning of the 1973 bill, Roe v. Wade, is not only detrimental to the women it affects but to the world as a whole.
This removal of choice and autonomy for women was fueled by bigotry, ignorance and blatant disrespect for the rights and bodies of women and the children, born as a result of pregnancy termination being illegal. It also sets the unfavorable precedent that America is not as fond of free thought, choice and action as its constitution claims.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s initial ruling of Roe v. Wade recognized that the decision to continue or end a pregnancy was the right of the individual, not the government. This law held the specific guarantee of liberty and freedom in the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution, protecting an individual’s privacy, including the right to abortion before fetal viability.
Roe placed reproductive decision-making in conjunction with other rudimental rights. Rights that are ingrained in, cherished by and utilized by American citizens such as freedom of speech, press and religion, by conferring it to the highest degree of constitutional protections, known as the “strict scrutiny.”
With Roe intact, The Supreme Court was forcing American states to justify any interference with the right to access abortion by showing that it had a “compelling interest,” and held that no interest was compelling enough to ban abortion before viability. After the point of viability, the state could ban abortion or take other steps to promote its interest in protecting the fetus. Even after that point, however, abortion must be permitted to preserve a patient’s life and health.
With this protection overturned the health of women and their fetuses would be at risk.
Denying a woman the right to terminate a pregnancy could potentially end her life, especially if the pregnancy is one of high risk. It is not just the mother that could be endangered by a risky or unwanted pregnancy the fetus is in jeopardy as well. If this mass of cells does grow to term become a baby and enter the world still unfeasible and/or unwanted to its biological family its only option becomes adoption. Though adoptions do sometimes end well, leaving the child in the hands of loving and capable families, that is not always the outcome.
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“The Supreme Court’s decision is clear, and it is now up to the states to address this important issue. We’ll do that in short order in Indiana… I have been clear in stating I am pro-life. We have an opportunity to make progress in protecting the sanctity of life, and that’s exactly what we will do.”
— Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb
Despite nearly a half-century of precedent affirming the constitutional right for women to have control over their bodies and lives, abortion rights are more at risk than ever.
On Friday, June 24 the Supreme Court ruled to overturn Roe v. Wade leaving women’s rights in the hands of male-dominated state governments. This being said it is not only high-powered men cheering for the eradication of these rights, it is high-powered women as well.
“Today’s historic Supreme Court decision [the overturning] is a victory for the sanctity of life,” said House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik.“It will save countless innocent children. House Republicans are incredibly grateful for the pro-life movement’s tireless efforts for decades, leading to this day to give a voice to the voiceless and protect our most vulnerable unborn babies. As a new mom, I know there is nothing more extraordinary than the miracle of life.”
Chairwoman Stefanik and so many others who pride themselves on giving voices to the unheard are doing so by shunning the resounding cries of others. The fetus, the chairwoman is referring to is incapable of thought and function without the mind and body of its host.
It is only bigotry and ignorance that leads individuals of any gender to steal the right of bodily autonomy away from anyone.
If this thievery of rights was not enough many including Vice President Kamala Harris recognize this as just the beginning.
“This opinion also says when you read it, that abortion is not deeply rooted in our nation’s history,” said the Vice President while speaking in Illinois on Friday, June 24. “They offer that in the opinion as a foundation for the decision they rendered today. In holding that it is not deeply rooted in our history, today’s decision on that theory, then, calls into question other rights that we thought were settled, such as the right to use birth control, the right to same-sex marriage, the right to interracial marriage.”
The fear of the general public has become apparent recently as debates over this topic have become more prevalent. For many, the overturning of this decision was the embodiment of their worst nightmare.
“I’m torn and scared for the future,” said Nisa Ortiz, a 25-year-old mother of a four-year-old daughter, who told CNN. “I will say that if my birth control failed me in the near future, I definitely would not be ready for another child and feel like I’d be stuck having to make a decision that I would not be able to afford or a life that would not be suitable for two kids.”
Oritz continues, saying that the fear she has extends further than her own situation.
“This is scary,” said Ortiz. “I’m scared for my friends who have had pregnancy complications before, and the younger generation of 13-to-21-year-olds will face the brunt of it.”
kai • Jul 23, 2022 at 3:33 pm
Amazing story, very well written!!!
Becky T. • Jun 29, 2022 at 3:49 pm
Very well written and filled with important information for sure.
Debbie • Jun 26, 2022 at 2:19 pm
Very informative well written article.
Lane • Jun 25, 2022 at 12:13 pm
Amazing opinion piece Katrell. Thank you for sharing this and showing us that we are not alone in this fight.