Violent protests erupted in downtown Los Angeles today, all over the leaked draft opinion of Associate Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito declaring the end of 1973 Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling legalizing abortion in the United States. Protesters tossed bottles and rocks at the police, trying to maintain order over protests over the prospects of the Supreme Court ruling to end Roe v. Wade. No one knows for sure whether Alito’s leaked draft opinion reflects the views of four other conservative justices or just Alito’s views against Roe v. Wade. About 250 demonstrators marched from the federal courthouse in Downtown Los Angeles to Pershing Square, a walk of maybe four blocks. Videos posted on Facebook shows Los Angeles Police Department officers tackling protesters near a fire hydrant, while other protester were struck with police truncheons for crowd control
Chief Justice John Roberts, 67, was stunned when liberal news site Politico published Alito’s draft opinion citing the end of Roe v. Wade. Roberts ordered the High Court’s Marshal to investigate the leak, knowing that one of its staff, either long-term employee or a law clerk, stabbed the High Court in the back. Roberts said the Supreme Court, one of the three independent branches of government, required confidentiality to properly review cases for significant Constitutional rulings. With a mole embedded in the court, Roberts understands that it’s difficult for the High Court to do its job with interference. Demonstrations around the country, some on the steps of the Supreme Court, show an angry mob protesting an expected Supreme Court decision, essentially warning the court that there would be consequences, possibly violence, for a ruling running against prevailing public opinion.
Watching protesters toss bottles and rocks at the LAPD shows the kind of unlawful protesting to often sweep Americans streets since the May 25, 2020 death of George Floyd. For almost six months following Floyd’s deaths, protesters around the country routine burned, looted and trashed American cities. Today’s anti-Supreme Court protesters, advocating protection of Roe v. Wade, mixed it up with the police, all because they could get away with it. Protesters surrounded LAPD officers and Homeland Security personnel trying to maintain law-and-order on the streets. Law enforcement isn’t responsible for any Supreme Court ruling, whether it pleases or infuriates demonstrators. Whatever the merits of the Roe v. Wade controversy, demonstrators know the police only enforce law-and-order, don’t take a position on the expected ruling giving rise to violent protests.
Violent street protests have been a fashionable trend of anarchists infiltrating otherwise peaceful demonstrations, something unknowing to activists and protesters trying to advance their cause. Anarchists take advantage of crowds massing to express grievances, in this case about an expected ruling by the Supreme Court on Roe v. Wade. Roberts said the Supreme Court would not allow the angry mob to affect its rulings, whether the rulings have popular support of not. It’s obvious that sizable numbers of women and men support a women’s right to choose abortion guaranteed by Roe v. Wade. However large national groups of pro-life advocates, they’ve made a determined effort since the 1973 Roe v. Wade to overturn the Supreme Court ruling. Alito’s draft opinion gives them reason for hope. Street demonstrators have an obligation to follow laws related to peace street protests.
Tossing rocks and bottles at the police for maintaining law-and-order weakens the cause of demonstrators hoping to influence the Supreme Court vote. But as Roberts said, the Supreme Court, to effectively do its Constitutional job, must be free from the angry mob that would coerce decision based on passion and public sentiment. Demonstrating in Lower Manhattan’s Foley Square, New York Atty. Gen. Letitia James joined the protests, saying over 20 years ago she “walked into Planned Parenthood.” James was responsible for compiling information about sexual harassment that eventually forced former Gov. Andrew Cuomo out of office. While no violence occurred in New York, the Los Angeles protests showed evidence of infiltration by anarchist groups. No amount of violent street protests should affect a Supreme Court ruling, no matter how unpopular the ruling because of an illegal press leak.
No one can rest at the Supreme Court until the Alito draft opinion leaker comes forward, admitting they breached the High Court’s strict confidentiality rules. Whatever happens on Los Angeles streets, it’s not up to demonstrators to coerce a Supreme Court decision one way or another. Alito and other conservatives haves a right to their opinions about Roe v. Wade, even if the High Court decides to reverse the 1973 ruling. Congress has done nothing since 1973 to pass legislation that offers women the right to choose abortion, as a matter of medical privacy. If Congress wants to protect the intent of Roe v. Wade, medical privacy for women, they need to push for national legislation regardless of what happens to Roe v. Wade. No angry mob should be allowed to affect the outcome of Supreme Court rulings because all Justices are entitled to Article 3 [judicial branch] privacy and protections.
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