In 1973, the Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade put protections in place for reproductive rights without excessive government restriction.

But a recently leaked draft by the highest court in the land could potentially undo the long-standing ruling, allowing judges and politicians to decide what people can and can’t do with their bodies.

Make no mistake—this would undo 50 years of progress in reproductive rights.

The 98-page draft, which includes a 31-pages of historical state abortion laws and 118 footnotes, also featured unofficial votes from the Justices, with a slim majority in favor of overturning Roe V. Wade.

With former President Trump’s appointment of three right-leaning Justices, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett, the writing could be on the wall.

It’s still unknown if any changes have been made to the leaked draft, which also undermines the Supreme Court’s 1992 decision, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which strengthened a woman’s right to have an abortion.

While the rulings will not be finalized for another two months, it is likely that Roe v. Wade will be overturned.

This would be the second time that the public has gotten access to a drafted decision. Interestingly, a Supreme Court clerk leaked the original Roe v. Wade decision in January 1973, but it was only published hours before the final decision went public.

“Roe was egregiously wrong from the start,” The leaked draft, written by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, states. “It was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences. And far from bringing out a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division.”

The three liberals on the Supreme Court are working to convince Chief Justice John Roberts, a less stringent right-winger, to vote against the decision. Roberts insists that the Supreme Court hasn’t made a final decision, but it’s incredibly likely that Roe v. Wade will be overturned.

I’m a woman who comes from a privileged background and also lives in one of the most liberal states in the country, Massachusetts, which allows abortions for the first 5 months of pregnancy. I fear that it’s only a matter of time until lawmakers come after my state, buoyed by the overturn of Roe v. Wade.

I sympathize with women in pro-life-leaning states, where abortions will likely get banned as an effect of the ‘trigger’ laws held in place. People with lower incomes who live in rural areas will be most affected, and it remains clear that these laws won’t outlaw all abortion, just the safe ones.

As the 14^th Constitutional Amendment makes clear, “No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.”

I take serious issues with a privileged group of mostly old white men telling me what I can and can’t do with my body.

It’s hard to believe that in 2022, this nation is progressing backward. We should continue to stand up and educate others. This isn’t just a women’s issue. This is a human issue.