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From The Socialist newspaper, 26 May 2021
US right to abortion under threat: Mass campaign to support the right to choose must be built
Protest in support of abortion rights in Argentina August 2018, photo Soyyosoycocomiel/CC, photo Soyyosoycocomiel/CC (Click to enlarge)
The US Supreme Court has agreed to consider a Mississippi law banning most abortions after the 15th week of pregnancy. This could potentially mark a serious attack on the right to abortion in the US.
A constitutional right to abortion was affirmed in 1973 through the 'Roe v Wade' case. If the Mississippi ban, which has been blocked by lower courts, was to be upheld, that would represent a devastating blow to the right to abortion.
Given that under Trump the political balance of the Supreme Court was tipped 6-3 in favour of right-wing conservatives, reversing Roe v Wade cannot be ruled out.
Right-wing Republican-controlled states have systematically legislated to erode access to abortion facilities and create obstacles to obtaining a termination. This has particularly hit poor, minority and immigrant women, who cannot afford to travel out of state. 10 states already have 'trigger laws' ready to ban almost all abortions.
US women's jobs and livelihoods have been especially hit by the Covid pandemic. A mass movement needs to be built, involving the workers' organisations, that combines defending the right to abortion with pressure to ensure that the minimal measures in Biden's American Families Plan on childcare, parental leave etc, are implemented and extended, guaranteeing the right to a decent job, a $15 an hour minimum wage and the resources needed to bring up children free from poverty.
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The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
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- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
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In The Socialist 26 May 2021:
What we think
Palestinians need a new socialist intifada
News
Our lives, our jobs, our future - Not safe in Tory hands
Fight for the right to protest
Great British Railways shake-up offers no end to profiteering
Organise to oppose Tory academisation plans
Lancaster Greens do deal with Tories
NHS
Organise for 3 July NHS pay protests
Scottish Independence
Where now for the Scottish independence movement?
Workplace
Metroline London bus workers win huge victory
Goodlord sacks strikers - fight the penny-pinching, bullying bosses!
Thurrock refuse workers beat council and bin pay cut
RMT: Support Alan Pottage for assistant general secretary
NUJ leadership pushes through subs increase but left lands blows at conference
CWU elections: Vote for a fighting, campaigning, socialist EC member
'Fire and rehire' attempts spread - coordinated fightback needed
Cadent Gas plans 200 job losses
International
Mexico City subway train collapse - negligence, corruption and capitalism
US right to abortion under threat: Mass campaign to support the right to choose must be built
Campaigns
Stop Israeli state terror against Palestinians
Leicester protest against arms supplies to Israel
Palestine protesters donate to fund socialist material
Cladding anger builds - protest on 5 June
Readers' Opinion
Get up, stand up - don't give up the fight!
TV review: Three Families is excellent. But protest movement is missing
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