For civil rights groups, Roe v Wade is reminder of supreme court’s limits

Attorneys and activists say they cannot solely rely on the courts - and are planning fresh approaches to advancing racial justice

Civil rights attorneys are planning new approaches to advancing racial justice after the US supreme court's decision to overturn Roe v Wade and recent rulings that have eroded civil rights victories.

Over its long history, the court has been viewed as a friend and a foe of racial progress. Last week's decision to overturn a 50-year precedent in the landmark abortion case, signaled another turning point, said ReNika Moore, the director of the ACLU's Racial Justice Program. She immediately saw how the decision would disproportionately imperil the lives of low-income and women of color, particularly Black women. She also saw the implications of the decision for cases where race is at the heart of the matter.