The "trigger method" limits abortion in some states
The US Supreme Court's ruling to overturn the Roe v. Wade case means that abortion is not available in many conservative states that have already passed the so-called "trigger" law banning procedures. Among them is Wyoming.
"It's easy to say that an abortion will never happen until you're in an impossible situation that requires an abortion," Riata Walker told CBS News.
In January 2020, Walker discovered that a 20-week-old fetus had severe cardiac defects and chromosomal complications. She said her doctor wouldn't have survived if she had given birth to her unborn baby.
So Walker and her husband drove from their home in Casper, Wyoming to a hospital in Denver for more than four hours.
"We had to have an abortion for medical reasons because of her daughter we desperately wanted," Walker said. "I don't know what choice to make until that happens. The hypothesis is that it's really easy to say that I'll never choose it."
March, Wyoming The state Republican-controlled legislaturehas enacted a trigger lawthat will come into force shortly after Friday's ruling. Wyoming law makes exceptions for sexual assault, incest, and the physical health of the mother.
Wyomingis one of the 13 statesthat have passed such a trigger method.
"I call on everyone to keep all protests free of peace, peace, peace, peace and intimidation, no matter how deeply I care about this decision. Violence is never accepted. "Hmm," President Joe Biden told the country on Friday. Following the Supreme Court's decision. "Intimidation and intimidation are not speech."
But the threat may have already come. Casper's Women's Health Clinic, which was preparing to open this month, was the only clinic in Wyoming to offer surgical abortions. However, on May 25, theclinic was attacked by a suspected arson. Closed-camera footage showed a late-night intruder carrying a gas can and burning the clinic. I suffered a serious fire damage.
Wellspring HealthAccess, a non-profit organization, is currently rebuilding its clinic.
"Do I want to be here and talk about someone who committed a domestic terrorist act in our building?" Julie Burkhart, President of Wellspring Health Access, said: "Never. I wanted to move the furniture."
Opposition to the right to abortion in Wyoming is enthusiastic, with demonstrators gathering outside the clinic every week to protest.
"We prayed that the Lord would somehow prevent the opening of this place," said anti-abortion activist Mike Piat. "So if it's vandalism and fire, I'm fine."
"The hatred I witnessed, especially from that side, is extreme and it's cruel," Walker said. He said. "We are all human and trying to do the right thing."
For Walker, it meant a very painful and personal decision.
"You were born of this whole experience of having an abortion, and you are also a sad mom," Walker said.
Walker and her husband gave birth to their son Philip in January 2021.
On the other hand, the arrest at Caspark Clinic has not been done yet. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms offers a $ 5,000 bounty for information that could lead to arrest.
Major Garrett is a Washington correspondent on CBS News. He also hosts the weekly multi-platform interview show "The Takeout" on politics, policy and pop culture.
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