Roe Reckonings: So “Pro-Life” They Want You Dead

Another week, another escalation in the US far right’s campaign against abortion. Since the fall of Roe v. Wade, anti-abortion politicians have moved rapidly from restricting access to openly pushing for criminalisation — and in some cases punishments that could include life imprisonment or even the death penalty.

Many of these efforts are driven by a broader ideology rooted in so-called “family values” politics, where Christian fundamentalist and nationalist movements frame abortion, feminism and LGBTQ rights as threats to a traditional social order.

Here’s what happened in US reproductive rights news this week.

Tennessee bill proposed death penalty for abortion

One of the most extreme developments came from Tennessee, where Republican lawmakers proposed legislation that would classify abortion as “homicide of an unborn child.”

Under the proposal, anyone who obtained or assisted with an abortion could potentially face criminal homicide charges, opening the door to severe penalties including life imprisonment or even the death penalty.

The bill ultimately failed to advance in a House subcommittee this week, halting the proposal for now. Even though it stalled, the legislation reflects a growing push among some anti-abortion lawmakers to fully criminalise abortion and treat it as murder.

Sources

Activists confront anti-abortion campaigners in Nashville

The debate in Tennessee has also sparked visible grassroots resistance.

Outside a committee hearing in Nashville, reproductive rights activists confronted anti-abortion campaigners promoting the bill. One activist publicly shared her abortion story while challenging the proposed legislation and the consequences of criminalising abortion.

Videos of the confrontation circulated widely online, highlighting the growing anger among activists as lawmakers introduce increasingly extreme proposals targeting reproductive rights.

Wyoming signs six-week abortion ban

Meanwhile in Wyoming, the governor signed a new law banning abortion once so-called “fetal cardiac activity” can be detected — usually around six weeks of pregnancy.

This is extremely early in pregnancy. Because pregnancy is dated from the first day of the last menstrual period, someone who is “six weeks pregnant” has typically only missed one period. Many people do not yet realise they are pregnant at this stage, meaning the ban effectively prevents many people from accessing abortion care at all.

The law includes exceptions only for serious medical emergencies and does not include exceptions for rape or incest. Legal challenges are expected as similar bans continue to face court battles across the country.

Sources

The far right’s long game

From six-week bans to proposals that would criminalise abortion entirely, the direction of travel from the US far right is becoming increasingly clear.

Restrictions on clinics, medication abortion and telemedicine are only one part of a wider strategy to reshape law around the idea that abortion should be treated as a crime.

But resistance continues. Healthcare providers, lawyers and reproductive rights organisations are challenging bans in court, confronting lawmakers and organising across the country.

In the post-Roe US, the battle over reproductive freedom is only intensifying.