Sen. Sanders rallies public support for Roe v. Wade after Kennedy retirement

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) this week urged Americans to show their support for the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide, following the announcement of Justice Anthony Kennedy’s retirement.

“We gotta rally the American people around Roe versus Wade,” the Vermont independent said in an interview with MSNBC on Wednesday. “Overwhelmingly, the American people support Roe versus Wade, and we have to make it clear.”

{mosads}

Kennedy’s departure from the bench, effective July 31, has prompted many abortion-rights groups to sound the alarm over fears that President Trump’s nominee to replace Kennedy could pose serious risks to abortion access.

“I suspect the nominee will be another right-wing disaster,” Sanders said. “Our job is to mobilize the American people who overwhelmingly, among other things, do not believe that we should overturn Roe versus Wade.”

“All of the advances that we have made over the years are now increasingly in danger, because while Kennedy was certainly not a liberal or progressive in any sense of the word, on some issues he voted to protect human rights,” Sanders added.

Anti-abortion groups say they see an opening for overturning Roe v. Wade if Trump nominates another conservative justice who could vote in their favor if abortion cases make their way to the high court again.