By Jake Fogal
BLOOMINGTON – The blindsiding decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse Roe v. Wade ruling on abortion rights from 1973 has overturned 50 years of precedent and given state legislators the authority to regulate or outlaw abortion.
Pro-Lifers are celebrating the recall, while Pro-Choicers are protesting in cities across the country.
Dr. Meghan Leonard, an Illinois State Politics and Government Associate Professor at Illinois State University, says she isn’t surprised, but shocked.
“The ruling didn’t surprise me or I think anybody else. I still think it is shocking when a ruling such as this is striking down a 50 year old precedent, and particularly a precedent that was granting a right was overturned. This now takes away a right that woman, and people who can get pregnant, had relied on for 50 years,” Leonard said.
Leonard noted that she wasn’t surprised because of the leaked documents released two months ago hinting at the overturn.
‘Trigger Laws’ have been invoked in 13 states, meaning abortions will swiftly be outlawed in most cases in each state.
“Each state will have the ability to choose what their state legislators want. The right to abortion in Illinois is very safe, it will continue to exist. The democratic majorities in the legislature and Governor Pritzker have said that they are going to do everything they can to protect that,” Leonard said.
Abortion remains legal in Illinois, and Governor J.B. Pritzker said following the Supreme Court’s decision, that women will continue to have the right to choose in Illinois.
Jake Fogal can be reached at [email protected].
