May 5, 2022 – In Breaking News – THE HILL
Abortion rights activists in recent days have gathered outside the homes of three conservative Supreme Court justices to protest Roe v. Wade’s potential demise, taking their advocacy in an intensely personal and politically divisive direction.
The targeting of the residences — belonging to Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh and John Roberts — has forced the White House to navigate a thorny question about the proper bounds of political discourse, one with sharply divided views over whether the tactic marks a worrisome escalation or an impassioned response befitting the likely loss of an almost 50-year-old constitutional right.
The Biden administration attempted this balancing act on Monday, with White House press secretary Jen Psaki denouncing the prospect of threats or violence but stopping short of condemning the protests outside of justices’ homes.
(Jen Psaki is asked about the Supreme Court draft opinion leak. Courtesy of Forbes Breaking News and YouTube. Posted on May 4, 2022.)
“We are a country that promotes democracy, and we certainly allow for peaceful protest in a range of places in the country,” Psaki said. “None of it should violate the law.”
Some political analysts viewed that response as tepid.
Russell Wheeler, a visiting fellow in the Brookings Institution’s Governance Studies Program, said the Biden administration’s message could have been stronger.
“They’re trying to walk a line, pretty clearly, between a firm stance against violence toward judges while not alienating their pro-Roe base,” Wheeler said.
The recent demonstrations played out as street protests in major American cities and a suspected arson attack Sunday on a Wisconsin anti-abortion group have fueled concerns over whether Roe’s potential demise could spark a new wave of political violence in the U.S.
Robert Blair, coordinator of the Democratic Erosion consortium at Brown University, argued that the risk of political violence in the U.S. is very high and anything that contributes to the problem should be avoided.
He said leaders need to say these protests cross a line in order to curtail violence.
“One of the fundamental problems of Jan. 6 is people in positions of leadership weren’t coming out and saying, ‘Hey, stop this.’ Most obvious: Donald Trump,” Blair said.
“To the extent that you have folks like [President] Biden, or folks who are known to be supporters of abortion rights, coming out and denouncing these kinds of tactics, that’s important because it sends a really important signal that this is alienating people and I think that’s valuable.”
(A leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion showing a majority vote to overturn Roe v. Wade has spurred protests and concern. Democrats are now worrying if Roe v. Wade is struck down, other rights such as same-sex marriage will be next. Courtesy of FOX 7 Austin and YouTube. Posted on May 4, 2022.)
Continue reading… Abortion battle moves to homes of Supreme Court justices
AST strives to meet a 3 STAR trustworthiness rating, based on the following criteria:
- Provides named sources
- Reported by more than one notable outlet
- Includes supporting video, direct statements, or photos
