'Dark ages': Internet divided as Biden slams Alabama Supreme Court's 'unacceptable' frozen embryo ruling

WASHINGTON DC: President Joe Biden lashed out at the Alabama Supreme Court's controversial ruling considering frozen embryos as children under the law, calling it "outrageous and unacceptable," reported ABC News.

"Today, in 2024 in America, women are being turned away from emergency rooms and forced to travel hundreds of miles for health care, while doctors fear prosecution for providing an abortion. And now, a court in Alabama put access to some fertility treatments at risk for families who are desperately trying to get pregnant," the President's statement read.

"The disregard for women's ability to make these decisions for themselves and their families is outrageous and unacceptable," the statement added.

In a first-of-its-kind ruling, the all-Republican Alabama Supreme Court on February 20 said, "Unborn children are 'children'… without exception based on developmental stage, physical location, or any other ancillary characteristics."

The decision brought the state's invitro fertilization to a standstill as facilities paused the treatment in fear of legal risks and to evaluate the implications.

Biden links Alabama SC's decision to overturning of Roe v Wade

According to President Biden, the court's decision is a "direct result of the overturning of Roe v Wade," the 2022 SCOTUS ruling that ended the federal constitutional right to abortion in the country.

Biden, joined by Vice President Kamala Harris, asserted his commitment to advocating for women's reproductive rights, emphasizing that the battle will persist until federal legislation secures the protections of Roe v Wade for all women across the nation.

In a distinct announcement, the Biden campaign criticized former President Donald Trump for the decision, contending that it was "only possible" due to the Supreme Court justices he nominated overturning Roe v Wade.

Biden-Harris campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez warned against Trump's White House entry, stating, "There is no question that he will impose his extreme anti-freedom agenda on the entire country."

However, GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley voiced her support for the court decision, stating, "Embryos, to me, are babies."

The Alabama SC ruling stemmed from a lawsuit filed by a group of IVF patients whose embryos were accidentally destroyed at a cryogenic storage unit in December 2020.

Based on The Hill report, the plaintiffs filed two lawsuits against the Center for Reproductive Medicine, accusing the clinic of violating Alabama's Wrongful Death of a Minor Act, which extends to unborn children.

Internet split over Biden's remarks

Netizens divided into two opposing groups while reacting to Biden's criticism of the Alabama SC's ruling that could have far-reaching implications on reproductive rights.

While one camp mirrored the President's opposition to the decision, another group voiced their pro-life stance supporting the court.

One user wrote, "FFS the US has moved back to the dark ages. What a basket case of a country."

Whereas another person remarked, "I just don't understand how the Democrats can be in favor of infant genocide? Abortions cause 300 times more deaths than guns. I would bet that pro choice supporters are anti-second amendment." [sic]

"All those stupid people who thought they would stop at Roe v. Wade are seeing now that the far right is looking to take more rights away from women. Are they taking condoms away from men?" read a response.

While one user argued, "But. They are. Science matters."

"So now they're ruining a person(s) and/or couples a chance to be parents!! They have their children and they're okay with no one else having any!!!" an individual opined.

On the other hand, another user stated, "A bacteria on Mars is life but a heartbeat on Earth isn't."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.