hello, i'm laura trevelyan. this is a bbc news special. the us supreme court ends the constitutional right to have an abortion. it means the landmark roe v wade ruling, dating back nearly 50 years, has been overturned. the historicjudgement will transform abortion rights in america, with individual states now able to ban or restrict the procedure. the ruling is a major set back for presidentjoe biden and the democrats. the president has strongly condemned the decision. the court literally taking america back 150 years, it is a sad day for the country, in my view. but it doesn't mean the fight is over. but it doesn't mean

the fight is over. but senior republicans, including former vice president mike pence welcome the ruling. millions of women across the united states have lost their constitutional right to abortion, after a ruling of momentous significance by the country's supreme court. it has overturned a 50 year law that legalised abortion nationwide — and it now means that individual us states are legally able to ban it. up to half of america's 50 states are expected to do so — and 13 have already passed so—called trigger laws — which automatically outlaw abortion with the court's ruling. in the past hour, president biden has said it was a sad day for the court and for the country. 0ur north america editor sarah smith reports now on an issue — and a decision — which has polarised the united states.

this is a huge, historic moment for america. as they hear the news from the court, there isjubilation from anti—abortionists. life won today! "life won today," they chant, celebrating a victory after almost 50 years. i have seen the devastation that abortion has wrought on our country, on the communal level and then a personal level, and this is so vindicating to know that we can now take tangible steps to lessen the violence of abortion in our country. ten years ago, did you ever| imagine this would happen? i imagined it a lot, but i still... people told me it was impossible, that we would never see this kind of victory, and now i know that victory is not only possible, it happened. so we are going to work out of this momentum, we are going to keep going, we're going to keep fighting, and we're going to build a better world.

fury from those campaigning to keep the guaranteed right to abortion, promising to fight back. it's not the will of the people, and this country's supposed to run off of the will of the people. i'm 21, and i'm terrified! we have a lot of work to do to make that happen, but we will never give up. it's 50 years since there was last a significant decision on abortion rights in america. it might be another 50. it might be 50 more, sure. but we're not going to stop. it doesn't matter. it doesn't matter what they say. again, abortions will continue, theyjust won't be legal, and women will die from botched abortions. it's obvious this ruling is not going to end the arguments over abortion in america. in fact, it will inflame them. in this deeply polarised society, abortion is already one of the most divisive issues. today's ruling means individual states can make their own laws on abortion. there are 13 states that have so—called trigger laws in place which will now lead

to an immediate abortion ban. another 13 will move quickly to ban or severely limit access, says a pro—choice group. it estimates 36 million women of reproductive age will live in states without abortion access. the hypocrisy is raging, but the harm is endless. what this means two women is such an insult, it's a slap in the face to women about using their own judgment to make their own decisions about their reproductive freedom. the political impact could be felt in elections in november. pro—choice democrats hope women will turn out for them in large numbers. # jesus loves the little children... anti—abortion activists view today's victory is merely a first step.

they will now take their campaigns to every state which allows terminations, trying to get abortion banned in the whole of the united states. president biden has condemned the ruling as extremist, saying the supreme court had removed rights from americans in a way it had never done before, and taken the country back a century and a half. today the supreme court of the united states expressly took away the constitutional right from the american people. that it had already recognised. it did not limit it, it simply took it away. that's never been done to write so important to so many americans, but they did it. it is a sad day for the court and for the country. now, it is a sad day for the court and forthe country. now, it it is a sad day for the court and for the country. now, it must be very clear the health and life of women in this nation is now at risk. i believe the weight was the correct

decision, as a matter of constitutional law and application of the fundamental right to privacy and liberty in the matters of family and liberty in the matters of family and personal autonomy. and liberty in the matters of family and personalautonomy. i and liberty in the matters of family and personal autonomy. i believe the decision on a complex matter, careful balance between women was not right to choose early in her pregnancy and the state's ability to regulate later in her pregnancy. a decision with broad national consensus and most americans of faith and backgrounds found acceptable, that had been the law of the land for most of the lifetime of americans today. i will do all in my power to protect a woman's right in states where they will face the consequences of today's decision. the courts decision cast a dark shadow over a large swathe of the land with many states in this country still recognising a woman's right to choose. so, if a woman lives in a state that restricts

abortion, the supreme court's decision does not prevent her from travelling from her home state to the state that allows it. it does not prevent a doctor in that state from treating her. as the attorney general has made clear, women must remain free to travel safely to another state to seek the care they need. my administration will defend that bedrock right. nomia iqbal is outside the supreme court. just tell us about the very different reactions that you are encountering there.— different reactions that you are encountering there. yes, there have been protesters _ encountering there. yes, there have been protesters from _ encountering there. yes, there have been protesters from both _ encountering there. yes, there have been protesters from both sides - been protesters from both sides outside the supreme court. they have been coming here nearly every day whenever we know that the supreme court is issuing an opinion because americans knew this was going to

happen said the draft opinion was leaked that show the intention of the supreme court to overturn roe v wade early last month. and outside the court it is getting busier. every few minutes. the crowd doesn't tend to move. they are very fixated right outside the supreme court. they have got anti—abortion protesters, pro—choice protesters with signs on noise. earlier there were some pushed up against the black fence which fortifies the whole of the supreme court. you can't get anywhere near it. but they were held back and there are actually guards just behind the fence as well, heavily armed guards just in case anyone tries to get over the fans because one of the things that the police are really focused on is the safety of the actual justices although we focused on is the safety of the actualjustices although we don't believe that they are inside the supreme court itself. people have been coming for dubuque tourists coming here as well and people from other parts of america. who says is not that they necessarily have a view on it but theyjust want

not that they necessarily have a view on it but they just want to take in what is a real seminal moment in america's history when it comes to women's rights. you moment in america's history when it comes to women's rights.— comes to women's rights. you refer to it as comes to women's rights. you refer hnaa comes to women's rights. you refer to it as a seminal— comes to women's rights. you refer to it as a seminal moment - comes to women's rights. you refer to it as a seminal moment and - comes to women's rights. you refer to it as a seminal moment and in i comes to women's rights. you referl to it as a seminal moment and in the hours since the court handed out its ruling, already some states have moved, haven't they, to restrict abortion rights?— moved, haven't they, to restrict abortion rights? that is right. the states of the _ abortion rights? that is right. the states of the so-called _ abortion rights? that is right. the states of the so-called trigger - states of the so—called trigger laws which basically means is sewn as roe v wade is trouble they will automatically ban abortion. it already heavily restricted abortion anyway over the years but now this is given them the green light to outright bonnet which presents so many questions now for women who will try to get abortion access whether that is the operation are medicated abortion really get the two pills sent to you by a doctor in the mail. just to you know, those trigger states that we know, that now have abortion, kentucky, louisiana, mississippi, missouri,

north dakota, 0klahoma, tennessee, texas, utah and wyoming. a distant point of texas. texas had already banned abortion at six weeks but now they will outright bonnet so if you are a women in taxes and you want to get access to abortion obviously you can get is in texas or any of the state surrounding it because they have banned abortion or they will eventually ban abortion. you might go to illinois which are so many miles away, if you can afford it. but it will be easier for you, as in american women, to leave the us and crossed the border into mexico to have an abortion because mexico has now decriminalised abortion so that really hits home just how much america has become an outlier when it comes to abortion access certainly in this.— it comes to abortion access certainly in this. wanted the judgment — certainly in this. wanted the judgment itself _ certainly in this. wanted the judgment itself reveal - certainly in this. wanted the judgment itself reveal about certainly in this. wanted the - judgment itself reveal about the deep ideological divisions on the supreme court among the justices? the opinion was written by conservative justice the opinion was written by conservativejustice samuel the opinion was written by conservative justice samuel alito and he had bitten the draft opinion

and he had bitten the draft opinion and what was investing in the judgment was they had said this was not constitutional. they had made that opinion and basically, they said the right to abortion cannot be found in the constitution or inferred from its provisions. there was concurring opinion byjustice clarence thomas which is something thatis clarence thomas which is something that is really worrying. notjust pro—abortion, pro—choice groups but also those who are pro—gay rights and pro—contraception. that if you apply the logic of that opinion then those rulings may also be under threat. and so what the concern is that with abortion rights being overruled, what could come next? what could happen next? and that is something that is, you know, as i say, worrying people and protesters out here. we have had protesters holding up signs saying protect gay marriage, for example. so i think

the concern is that you have got a supreme court which has a strong conservative majority now and what other cases could be presented to them in the future. you other cases could be presented to them in the future.— other cases could be presented to them in the future. you have seen a arade of them in the future. you have seen a parade of lawmakers _ them in the future. you have seen a parade of lawmakers coming - them in the future. you have seen a parade of lawmakers coming down | them in the future. you have seen a | parade of lawmakers coming down to the supreme court in the wake of this within. what have they been saying? this within. what have they been sa in: ? . . ., this within. what have they been sa in: ? ~ . ., ., this within. what have they been sa in? ~ ., ., saying? welcome earlier i spoke to the democratic _ saying? welcome earlier i spoke to the democratic congresswoman - saying? welcome earlier i spoke to the democratic congresswoman he| saying? welcome earlier i spoke to - the democratic congresswoman he was really emotional when i spoke to her. she told me when she was only 13 when roe v wade was established in 1973 and to now be here to see it toppled, she described it as profoundly horrifying. she talked about her young granddaughter who is only 13 and she said my granddaughter now has less rights than i did and she will now be treated as a second—class citizen. i put to her that what democratic party plan to do? should they have made abortion, should the protected abortion rights as a national level? late last year they passed a bill to protect abortion rates across the

country but it did not go anywhere but it did not get the republican support in the senate. i also put to her, is at the democratic party taken women's rights for granted given what has happened today has been the work of conservative movements were so many decades. she denied that inside it is not that they have not taken it for granted. she said to me something that i have heard from other lawmakers, certainly from the democratic side that up to believe that this will now galvanise voters for the midterm elections. she thinks this will be a big issue on the ballot. she is from the state of pennsylvania which is a swing statement comes to the elections, where the elections ultimately decided. she thinks this will be a issue for voters, november so that remains to be seen.- so that remains to be seen. thank ou. for so that remains to be seen. thank yom for some _ so that remains to be seen. thank you. for some more _ so that remains to be seen. thank you. for some more context - so that remains to be seen. thank you. for some more context on i so that remains to be seen. thank. you. for some more context on this historic ruling lets bring in our senior north america correspondent who is in our dc studio for others. for a conservative dominated court, as there is quite a radical move?

well, because this court is full of appointees by republican presidents who were pressured to pickjudicial nominees who opposed roe v wade even if they did not explicitly say so, during the confirmation hearings, i guess it should not be a surprise. there was an easy 6—3 conservative majority on this court now. the decision over billing bow the wade was five to four. 0nly decision over billing bow the wade was five to four. only one expressed her trepidation. you have to view this in the context of a multi decades long planned by anti—abortion activists to hand pick judicial nominees from the very lowest level, working them up through courts to get them in a position to be closely vetted and on the selectors to get on the supreme court where they would not change

their mind, they would not vote to uphold abortion protections, to sustain roe v wade. after the 1992 planned parenthood decision when they thought they had that conservative majority, they had republican appointed justices on the supreme court and they still affirmed roe the wade in its substance. this was a long process over decades to make sure they did not happen again and that when abortion came to this court with a conservative majority that this court, would do what theyjust did today. court, would do what they 'ust did toda . ~ . , court, would do what they 'ust did toda .~ ., , today. what is the next happier? democrats _ today. what is the next happier? democrats are _ today. what is the next happier? democrats are claiming - today. what is the next happier? democrats are claiming that - democrats are claiming that republicans want to pass a national law outlawing abortion and they are also pointing tojustice clarence thomas who, in his ruling, suggested that other villains in contraception and same—sex marriage could also be looked at again by the court. it is interesting _ looked at again by the court. it is interesting to _ looked at again by the court. it 3 interesting to see the democratic response and joe biden response in his speech today warning that national bands are a possibility and

they are a possibility. there are significant numbers of republicans in congress would like to see a national abortion ban for topper is politically practical in their mind, with opposing right of the bat, greater limitations to abortion until they get to a ban, that is another question. and joe biden also warned about gay marriage, nor is being reinstated in contraception laws being reinstated. pointing to that concurring opinion byjustice thomas and the idea that this decision cuts out some of the legal framework for those decisions. it will be interesting to see. to some extent, democrats want to try to drum up fear that these other decisions are in jeopardy because people may not care quite as much about abortion may very well care about abortion may very well care about gay marriage and contraception. so activate the base even more. it also, the idea that

this is a very real threat. there is evidence for that as well. a two—pronged kind of thing. worry about what is happening with abortion right now and worry about what could happen and then get democratic voters to the polls. for women who _ democratic voters to the polls. for women who live in the deep south of america, who want to seek an abortion, is it possible that it could be criminalfor them abortion, is it possible that it could be criminal for them to drive out of state, many hundreds of miles to seek an abortion elsewhere? there is that possibility _ to seek an abortion elsewhere? there is that possibility in _ to seek an abortion elsewhere? there is that possibility in some _ to seek an abortion elsewhere? ii!” is that possibility in some states have already started to move to make it illegal to assist women to cross into state lines in order to get an abortion. i don't think any of them are contemplating making it illegal for the women herself to do that but in texas, for instance, an individual can bring a law suit for damages anyone who aids in an abortion procedure so you can conceivably imagine individuals and

taxes being a suit against someone who helps women, helps provide women with money, helps transporter women to a state like california and new york to obtain an abortion. that is going to be one of the big legal battle grounds going forward. what can states to ban abortion do to prevent these abortions instead of happening in their states, happening elsewhere. that is the year going to see mistakes with abortion rates like new york and california, what kind of legal protections can they put in place to prevent, say, abortion records being subpoenaed by states like texas or missouri to keep those records confidential and to have the infrastructure necessary to have the infrastructure necessary to support women who have come to the state seeking an abortion. we have already heard exactly that kind of language from eric adams, the mayor of new york city.— mayor of new york city. indeed. thanks so _ mayor of new york city. indeed. thanks so much _ mayor of new york city. indeed. thanks so much for— mayor of new york city. indeed. thanks so much for being - mayor of new york city. indeed. thanks so much for being with i mayor of new york city. indeed. i thanks so much for being with us. for more on the sweeping ruling by the court, joining us now is a professor of medical humanities.

thanks for having us. give us your reaction to this ruling by the court overturning roe v wade.- reaction to this ruling by the court overturning roe v wade. gratify that instead of having _ overturning roe v wade. gratify that instead of having nine _ overturning roe v wade. gratify that instead of having nine unelected - instead of having nine unelected judges sort of thrusting disposition down on people now will be legislators. it will be the people who decide. the supreme court came up who decide. the supreme court came up with an abortion law that made the united states one of only seven countries in the entire world that allowed abortion on request after 20 weeks gestation which is while the extreme. now, at least, we can follow europe, we can follow australia, we can follow developed countries and decide this according to the people's will. but countries and decide this according to the people's will.— to the people's will. but charles, this is now _ to the people's will. but charles, this is now very _ to the people's will. but charles, this is now very confused - to the people's will. but charles, j this is now very confused picture, though, because you will have half of the country restricting or even outlawing a women's right to an and then the other half of the country moving to shore it up. you might perhaps put up i mean, we need to

let things settle a bit. we've never v had a meaningful abortion debate in this country. it is kind been on the extremes and it has never really mattered except on the extremes when it comes to the actual issue so if you just look at public opinion in the united states, before 12 weeks about six in ten americans want abortion to be legal. beyond 12 weeks seven and ten want it illegal. that does not fit into the fight to the death that are sometimes portrayed so we will have debate. we will have tax. this is something that we make a difference. science and technology. we do not have the ag and technology. we do not have the 4g technology that brings the prenatal child into our living rooms, right on our phones or refrigerators and that kind of technology to address the real discrepancies in the united states, the mortality rates are just awful

and to not force us to choose but to work to protect both. advocates of a woman's right to choose a maternal mortality is likely to go up. if women in the deep south who don't have access to an abortion seek backstreet procedures, for example, their lives could be in danger. it is notjust the deep south. like i said, it is a deep embarrassment for the country to have the kind of record we have on health, body butter specimen comes to maternal mortality. that is why it is important not to divide things until ifirst choice, left important not to divide things until i first choice, left versus right in this fight to the death. there is coming round to be had. there is common ground we had a 12 week sink common ground we had a 12 week sink common ground we had a 12 week sink common ground on expanding medicare. the very state that brought this case, mississippi, you are kicked

off the state medicare programme after 60 days that there would be broad support for if we could bring the people agree on it together but unfortunately, our abortion discourses, broken. well, where do you think we are now with public opinion polling suggesting that two thirds of americans support a women's right to choose an abortion although, as you say, the range is pretty varied versus the supreme courtjustices pretty varied versus the supreme court justices who pretty varied versus the supreme courtjustices who have decided to overturn a 50 year constitutional right. that is a polarised position, isn't it? at the mac especially the waiters presented the american people. but if we can train nuanced and is a little bit and say it is not either you are for every single abortion ever or you are for no abortions, if we can have a kind of debate about whether we should be able to have an abortion if the child has a disability or to save a mothers life or if there's a difference between abortion and the very early stages versus abortion

after 22 weeks when the baby can obviously feel pain. these are nuanced questions and questions we have not had a chance to debate in this country. a good percentage of people asked whether they support roe v wade do not even notice about abortion so we have a lot of work to do for actually having the debate on the first place. thank you very much indeed forjoining us there with that perspective. for more on the implications of the supreme court overturning roe the wade i spoke to a democratic strategist and former national political director for an abortion rights group to find out what she made of the ruling. it is a ve sad what she made of the ruling. it is a very sad day _ what she made of the ruling. it is a very sad day for— what she made of the ruling. it is a very sad day for america _ what she made of the ruling. it is a very sad day for america and - what she made of the ruling. it is a very sad day for america and for i what she made of the ruling. it is a | very sad day for america and for the women of this country to have these freedom stripped away from us. we, as everyone knows, expected it was coming and now we need to take this sadness and outrage and translated

into what needs to happen in november at our elections and that is notjust november at our elections and that is not just for congress november at our elections and that is notjust for congress although the point that your guest just before sad is well taken. republicans are in charge. that is what they will do. we need to start taking them, take this seriously, but it is also at state legislators and governor because... now this fight is there. have access to this important health care.— fight is there. have access to this important health care. nancy pelosi that a woman's _ important health care. nancy pelosi that a woman's right _ important health care. nancy pelosi that a woman's right to _ important health care. nancy pelosi that a woman's right to choose i important health care. nancy pelosi that a woman's right to choose is i important health care. nancy pelosi| that a woman's right to choose is on the ballot in november. but do you worry that actually there are 900,000 abortions every year in america, for most americans, may be what is on the ballot in november high inflation and just a struggle to get by? high inflation and 'ust a struggle to aetb ?

high inflation and 'ust a struggle toaetb ? ., high inflation and 'ust a struggle to aetb ? ., ., high inflation and 'ust a struggle touetb? ., ., to get by? looks, right now that has been what americans _ to get by? looks, right now that has been what americans have - to get by? looks, right now that has been what americans have said i to get by? looks, right now that has been what americans have said is i been what americans have said is that top concern. 0bviously, inflation gas prices is not something that is going to go away overnight and be a continued issue for the american voters but this is going to affect people in real time. as one of your guest sad when the supreme court rules like there's lots of states had trigger laws. lots of states have old laws in the books. the state of michigan has a 1931 law that would allow people to prosecute and criminalise women who attempt to have an abortion. this is not something that americans are going to take lightly when their freedoms from them. this is going to start affecting lives and it is going to be part of an analysis on part of the voters as to who they should support in novemberfor various elected offices but it is on the democratic party to continue to present it and put it to the voters. we can'tjust present it and put it to the voters. we can't just that this happen

present it and put it to the voters. we can'tjust that this happen and not continually show there is a difference between that party and this party and what kind of representation you will get for voting for different people. where jud from voting for different people. where judy from the _ voting for different people. where judy from the president _ voting for different people. where judy from the president of - voting for different people. where judy from the president of the i judy from the president of the united states, joe biden, in about the next ten minutes. what are you hoping to hear from the next ten minutes. what are you hoping to hearfrom him? the next ten minutes. what are you hoping to hear from him?— the next ten minutes. what are you hoping to hear from him? well, i am hoinr that hoping to hear from him? well, i am hoping that he _ hoping to hear from him? well, i am hoping that he is _ hoping to hear from him? well, i am hoping that he is going _ hoping to hear from him? well, i am hoping that he is going to _ hoping to hear from him? well, i am hoping that he is going to show- hoping to hear from him? well, i am hoping that he is going to show his l hoping that he is going to show his outrage at the supreme court ruling, this packed court ofjustices. many of him, three of them appointed underformer president of him, three of them appointed under former president trumbull under former president trumbull under oath saying that roe was president and clearly lying. and i hope that he is going to take a look at every single thing that the executive branch can do. there is a lot of different possibilities and ideas out there. and he and the

white house need to do everything possible to ensure that as many women in this country as can have access to abortion do. this women in this country as can have access to abortion do. as someone who worked _ access to abortion do. as someone who worked for _ access to abortion do. as someone who worked for a _ access to abortion do. as someone who worked for a pro-choice i access to abortion do. as someone | who worked for a pro-choice group, who worked for a pro—choice group, what is your concern about who is going to be affected in the wake of this ruling? going to be affected in the wake of this rulin: ? . ., this ruling? yeah, i mean, the reality is— this ruling? yeah, i mean, the reality is this _ this ruling? yeah, i mean, the reality is this is _ this ruling? yeah, i mean, the reality is this is going - this ruling? yeah, i mean, the reality is this is going to i this ruling? yeah, i mean, the reality is this is going to be i reality is this is going to be affecting communities of less economically, which, in reality in this country also tends to be more women of colour. that is what is going to happen. middle—class suburban women who can afford to get on in our plane or take days off work because they have a job worth that kind of family leave, because we have to remember, most women getting abortions are already

mothers. the majority of women accessing abortion care are already mothers and making these decisions for theirfamilies. these mothers and making these decisions for their families. these women will be able to go somewhere and afford it and have a safe procedure and the problem is going to be the women who cannot afford it. they cannot take that time off work. they don't have the money to pay for what is needed for driving in a hotel and those are going to be the women most affected so were going to savour the strong economic divide on who has abortion access and who doesn't. that economic divide on who has abortion access and who doesn't.— access and who doesn't. that is a democratic _ access and who doesn't. that is a democratic strategist _ access and who doesn't. that is a democratic strategist speaking i access and who doesn't. that is a j democratic strategist speaking to access and who doesn't. that is a i democratic strategist speaking to me earlier. there are 13 us states which have laws in place to impose an immediate ban on abortion — now that roe versus wade has been overturned by the supreme court. one of them is arkansas. sophie long reports from an abortion clinic in the state capital, little rock, just a warning her report contains some distressing detail. it was exactly the ruling

they'd been dreading. when the decision was delivered, it extinguished their final flickers of hope. 0utside, they had to turn women away. abortion is murder. it'sjust been upheld. inside, they had to deal with the realisation that the care they provided here is now a criminal offence... i don't think there's a waiting period there, but it is about a five—and—a—half— hour drive. ..and tell people they can no longer help. i'd say it's like having to turn women away, like... it sucks. jennifer thompson first came here as a patient. she says her abortion saved her life, and the care she received here inspired her to train so she could do the same for others. and now i have to tell them, i'm sorry, but there's nothing i can do for you. i'm sorry that your boyfriend beats you every day

and that he rapes you all the time. there's nothing i can do. you're going to have to find somewhere else to go. i mean, i can give them information to help them try, but it's heartbreaking, man. like, you know, this place saved my life, literally, and to not be able to provide anybody else with that when i know what this place is capable of, it's heartbreaking, man. for more than ten years, dr willie parker has travelled here from another state because the restrictive laws and the threat of violence or financial ruin has long been too great for local doctors to carry out abortions here themselves. i feel angry in the way that anybody who is deeply vested in human rights should feel angry and outraged and indignant, any time they are witnessing injustice. we will come to recognise the full cost of criminalising abortion when we start to see the bump in the rise in maternal mortality and morbidity, suffering and death related to conditions that are unique to pregnancy.