January 22, 1973.
The SCOTUS ruling on Roe v. Wade asserts
that women can choose to terminate a
pregnancy during the first two trimesters as part of
their constitutional
right to privacy.
The controversial ruling essentially
reversed a century of anti-abortion
legislation in the United States.
It was the result of a call by many American women for control over their own reproductive processes.
The legalization of abortion became a divisive issue,
with pro-choice and pro-life organizations strengthening
their memberships and political influence.
On three separate occasions in the
1980s and 90s, the Supreme Court
narrowly reaffirmed the decision.
With the current majority of conservative
justices on the Court, there are fears that
the historic legislation is vulnerable to reversal.
