Democrats condemn ‘cruel’ abortion bans ahead of 51st anniversary of Roe

Extreme' Republican-backed bans have caused untold suffering' for women, senators say, and vow to restore federal abortion rights

Senate Democrats underscored their commitment to abortion rights in a press conference on Wednesday, ahead of the 51st anniversary of Roe v Wade. The now-overturned supreme court case provided American women with a constitutional right to abortion for nearly 50 years.

Experts at the briefing described Republican-backed abortion bans across the country as cruel", extreme" and causing untold suffering" for American women, thousands of whom are forced to travel across state lines for abortions or be forced to remain pregnant.