Capitol police say 16 Democrats were arrested during a protest against the Supreme Court ruling on abortion rights.

The June 24, 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision to repeal abortion as a federal constitutional right has polarized the United States less than four months before the midterm elections. This decision is a reversal of an earlier decision by the Supreme Court in 1973, which stated that a woman’s right to an abortion, under certain conditions, is protected by the constitution. Under the new ruling, each state has the right to legalize, regulate or even ban abortion.

Immediately, several Democratic-controlled states announced that they would resort to enshrining the right to abortion in their constitutions, while others under Republican control rushed to initiate procedures to ban it or limit its terms. Democrats hope that the reaction to the decision of the court, which is dominated by conservatives, from six to three liberal judges, will improve their chances of maintaining their majority in Congress, as well as retaining control of some states, despite the forecasts of public opinion polls. Republican victory in the next midterm elections.