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Politico has obtained a leaked draft opinion from the United States Supreme Court that reveals the court is set to announce the end of the Roe v Wade (the landmark 1973 ruling that made it a constitutional right for women to seek an abortion)

The 98 page document was written in early February by Justice Samuel Alito. The draft reveals that Justice Clarence Thomas, Justice Neil Gorusch, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, and Justice Samuel Alito voted to strike down on Roe v Wade. In the draft Justice Alito writes the following:

“Roe was egregiously wrong from the start. Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences. Far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division. It is time to heed the constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives. We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled, and the authority to regulate abortion must be returned to the people and their elected representatives.”

“The Inescapable conclusion is that a right to abortion is not deeply rooted in the Nation’s history and traditions. On the contrary, an unbroken tradition of prohibiting abortion on the pain of criminal punishment persisted from the earliest days of the common law until 1973. We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled. The constitution makes no reference to abortion, and no such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision.”

A spokesperson for the supreme court released a statement about the leaked document saying “the court has no comment.” Following the news, police in Washington DC have started to put up barricades around the Supreme Court. Within minutes of them being put up, protestors arrived shouting “F*ck Alito”, “My body, my choice”, and “Shame”.

Digging deeper: The document leaked is an initial draft opinion which still allows Roe v Wade to remain the law of the land until an official opinion is signed and released by the court. If an official opinion is released with the same language, Roe v Wade will be overturned and abortion laws will be left for individual states to decide if they will be allowed or not.

Following the news, many democrats, independents, and republicans took to social media to comment on the leaked document.

Here’s what Democrats are saying:
Many democrats are expressing outrage on the leak with common messages saying that this is “an assault on women’s right to choose.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer issued a statement saying this is “an abomination, one of the worst and most damaging decisions in modern history. If the report is accurate, the Supreme Court is poised to inflict the greatest restriction of rights in the past fifty years – not just on women but on all Americans. Every republican senator who supported Senator McConnell and voted for Trump justices pretending that this day would never come will now have to explain themselves to the American people.”

Here’s what Independents are saying:
Independents seem to be torn on social media with one woman saying “I consider myself an independent that leans more right, but overturning Roe v Wade is wrong.” Another woman who identified herself as an independent praised the leak saying “I hate republicans and democrats but I don’t understand all the anger about Roe v Wade ending. You’re supporting the mass killing of the unborn. It’s simply wrong.”

Here’s what Republicans are saying:
Many republicans are praising the leak saying this “protects the life of the unborn, who also have rights.” Republican Senator Tom Cotton condemned the leak while praising the apparent decision saying “The Supreme Court & DOJ must get to the bottom of this leak immediately using every investigative took necessary. In the meantime, Roe was egregiously wrong from the beginning and I pray the court follows the constitution and allows the states to once again protect unborn life.” Republican congressman Madison Cawthorn said “Because of Donald J Trump, Roe v Wade will be overturned.”