"it really has become a focus of the anti-choice movement"
This is the last abortion clinic in Kentucky. In the two years since Donald Trump
became president there has been a huge crackdown on access to abortions.
One by one, clinics across the country have shut down under the weight of hefty regulations,
threats to doctors and violence.
Now seven states including Kentucky
have just a single abortion clinic left.
"Does our nation deserve the
justice we pray for if we continue to kill children for the inconvenience that
they might bring to our lives?"
and those few remaining clinics are under threat too
Here in Kentucky the EMW Women's Clinic has become a key battleground for
both sides of the argument.
Volunteers here escort women into the clinic to act
as a physical barrier against pro-Trump, pro-life supporters.
"Protester are becoming more bold about using their bodies and about bringing props
including things like a child's coffin or a full sound system."
"'Operation Save America' posted themselves outside the clinic in numbers and there were
hundreds of people. Of course, I can only imagine it was incredibly stressful and
probably traumatic for some of the women arriving at the clinic."
In a deeply
religious state like Kentucky many feel it is their duty to let women know there
is an alternative option.
"There is a way out three out of four women are coerced
in some way so she's left thinking I guess I have to get an abortion when she
really doesn't want to."
Forty five years ago the landmark Supreme Court ruling in
the case of Roe v Wade revolutionised abortion law. It gave a constitutional
right to legal, safe abortions until a fetus was viable, typically at 22 to 24 weeks
"Of course Roe has been law for decades but here in Kentucky and in
other states we already see an encroachment on women's rights and women's access."
Donald Trump came into office promising to only appoint Supreme
Court judges who are open to overturning the ruling
"Roe vs. Wade has resulted in some of the most permissive abortion laws anywhere
in the world. It is wrong. It has to change."
Before becoming president, way
back in 1999, he said "I'm very pro-choice" but things changed in 2011
"I'm pro-life"
In April 2017 when Neil Gorsuch was appointed the balance shifted making the
court more conservative and with a majority of six men to three women the
lack of a female presence at the table has left many women across the States
fearful of Donald Trump's campaign promises.
Claiming they could infringe on
their civil liberties.
"It's a general feeling overall that access is in danger."
and now Brett Kavanaugh has been appointed to the Supreme Court.
"On the question of Roe v Wade if confirmed to the DC Circuit I would follow Roe v Wade faithfully and fully."
As a devout Roman Catholic and conservative, pro-choice
campaigners are worried about how he will tip the scale.
Many anti-abortion activists hope Mr.Kavanagh will deliver on President Trump's promise to overturn Roe.
"We will always defend the very first right in the Declaration of Independence
and that is the right to life."
Many people in Kentucky hope it will become
the first state with no abortion access.
"Being on the precipice of this is a scary time."
"In America we don't worship government we worship God and I want to
thank you because boy did you come out and vote."
Conservative evangelicals are a
significant part of Donald Trump support base for many reasons including his
pro-life stance. They traditionally support Republican candidates.
More than 80 percent voted for the president in 2016
"Every child is a precious gift from God"
I contacted dozens of churches but they were reluctant to talk about the
president on camera. It was only Pastor AR Bernard who agreed to open up on the issue
He was the first pastor to quit
Mr.Trump's spiritual advisory board, an influential group of faith leaders who
advised the president
"Most of the meetings that I attended, President Trump came he talked and again
assured us that he would be the best thing that ever happened for all the
concerns the state of Israel, abortion, immigration. I don't think he's
changed the pro-life issue, I think he's emboldened those who are pro-life.
The constitutionality of Roe v Wade has been in question since it came into law, you know
So now it's being challenged what direction is going to go in? I don't know"
With the conservative majority in the Supreme Court some legal experts
believe it's only a matter of time before roe v-- wade is challenged
abortion restrictions short of roe v-- wade note will be upheld and that's the
scary thing for us is that we see the types of laws that are already being
passed in states like Kentucky we know that those have been held
unconstitutional in the past there is a concern that Donald Trump's Supreme
Court appointees would be willing to reverse precedent on those cases you
never know what's gonna happen and there are pregnancies that are incompatible
with life there are pregnancies with fetal anomalies and there is a very very
real need for abortion care in the state even for those individuals who normally
would identify themselves as pro-life President Trump has only been in office
for two years but he has already brought about the most conservative Supreme
Court for several decades it is a move that will shape American society for
years to come if Brett Cavanaugh lost as long as his predecessor he will be on
the court until 2048 as America becomes more politically divided an energized
left-wing base has begun to mobilize against the Trump administration record
numbers of women and ethnic minorities are standing in November's midterm
elections to ensure their voices are heard we've seen from this president how
frightening power and money can become when that power is not in the hands of
people who are most impacted by the decisions that are being made I do think
that we have much scarier times ahead and that it is vitally important that we
all stick together in preserving access what's his install if the rest of the
Trump presidency we can't be sure but one thing is clear his impact on the
country will far outstrip his residence in the White House