Jan. 22, 1973 is a day in history that changed women’s rights forever. The right for women to have an abortion was officially made legal. Just over 50 years later, time has only gone backwards.

To have a choice is not a privilege, but a right. Women need the right to choose. If America is the Land of the Free, why don’t women have the freedom over their own bodies?

June 24, 2022 was the date that a women’s right to choose got taken away. That was eight months ago, but what has happened in these last 50 years for a once constitutional right to be taken away in parts of this country?

Jan. 22, 1973: Roe won with a 7-2 Supreme Court vote, protecting abortion under the 14th Amendment.

Sept. 30, 1976: The Supreme Court passed the Hyde Amendment, which banned the government from using funds for abortion, except in cases of rape, incest or death.

June 29, 1992: The Supreme Court case Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey ended in a 5-4 vote. This case placed many new restrictions on abortion in Pennsylvania.

Nov. 8, 2016: Donald Trump was elected President of the U.S. and appointed three conservative judges on the Supreme Court, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. These three new justices brought the Supreme Court to a conservative majority.

Dec. 1, 2021: Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization was first introduced to the Supreme Court. This case regarded the Mississippi law that banned abortion after 15 weeks. If this case was upheld, Roe would be overturned.

May 2, 2022: A Politico article reports the leaked Supreme Court draft that intends to overturn Roe v. Wade. This triggered protests and rallies throughout the whole country.

June 24, 2022: The Supreme Court upheld Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in a 6-3 vote, which officially overturned Roe v. Wade.

As of current time, 24 out of 50 U.S. states have placed bans on abortion or are predicted to do so.

Not only is this overturning unconstitutional, but it is also extremely dangerous for women. An abortion ban does not stop all abortion, it only stops safe abortions.

Researchers have predicted that with abortion being outlawed, maternal deaths would rise 24% and 39%  for black women.

Abortion restrictions will not only increase maternal deaths, but they will also increase illnesses such as gestational diabetes and hypertension, which are factors of eclampsia.

Women’s health is a priority, not an open discussion for politicians. Abortion is healthcare and women are being deprived of that.