Abortion rights in dire immediate danger as Anthony Kennedy retires

Potential nominees shortlisted by Trump are believed to be jurists who would overturn the landmark decision, Roe v Wade

The US supreme court legalized abortion in 1973. Now, 45 years later, activists say the departure of the court's moderate, Justice Anthony Kennedy, represents the most direct threat to reproductive freedom since abortion was legalized.

Pro-choice advocates said Kennedy's retirement represents a 'dire, immediate danger' to women's reproductive freedom. Though the supreme court is not expected to rule on abortion matters in the near future, all of the potential nominees shortlisted by the Trump administration are believed to be jurists who would overturn the landmark decision, Roe v Wade, given the opportunity.

'Today, Justice Kennedy announced his retirement, and because President Trump will nominate the next supreme court justice, a woman's constitutional right to access legal abortion is in dire, immediate danger ' along with the fundamental rights of all Americans,' said Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.

'Our country faces a moment of deep crisis ' a crisis of rights, of values and of leadership,' she said. 'The deeply-divided decisions from the supreme court this week are a clear warning that our most cherished values are in jeopardy, and now hang in the balance. Women will not go back to the days when abortion was illegal in this country.'

Anti-abortion activists, meanwhile, described Kennedy's retirement as a turning point in the movement.

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