The future of abortion rights, as well as most civil rights, in the US Supreme Court is not very bright. After the court rules, it is then up to the politicians in legislation and are also lobbying to have bills introduced that would preempt any new restrictions.
Danger of concentrating on legislative arena
Pro-choice groups, namely the National Organization for Women (NOW) and National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) are organizing to take advantage of popular opinion in favor of the right to choose and of the groundswell of support they have received since the April protests by translating it into electoral victories for pro-choice candidates.
Even in the context of the US electoral system, this is not a prudent strategy because only about one-fourth of those eligible to vote ever do so. Many of the women and men mobilized for the April protests and subsequent demonstrations are among those non-voters. The support of these people, along with that of the urban poor and people of color, could be lost if the fight for reproductive freedom is limited to the legislative arena.
The anti-abortionists have vowed to keep up their harassment of clinics, and pro-choice activists are ready to keep defending them. The only action taken on the offensive thus far is that a small coalition of clinics has started to circulate videotapes and books that teach women how to perform their own abortions.
The Webster decision is also likely to have international effects. It is believed that anti-abortion groups in European countries dominated by the Catholic Church will be given a new impetus by this decision. It is also likely to adversely affect the fight for abortion rights in a few countries where abortion on demand is not available. Women in developing nations will be hit by this ruling not only psychologically, but also financially, because of the increasingly precarious status of US aid to international family planning organizations. Women all around the world who are struggling for freedom of reproductive choice can no longer look to the US as an example, or can do so only to see what is possible when a popular struggle is not maintained and rights in a capitalist society are taken for granted.
But the fight in the US isn't over yet, and the popular mobilization continues. The growing struggle for reproductive rights should expand to encompass all the other rights that are being limited and eliminated as part of the social program being engineered by the plutocratic US leadership. *