
An American judge drew criticism from historians after he said abortion rights came to be as a result of the eugenics movement – pseudoscience based on a racist prerequisite claiming white American genetics to be superior.
In a court paper on Planned Parenthood, he wrote: “Abortion is an act rife with the potential for eugenic manipulation.”
He went on to talk about the perceived dangers of abortion.
From the beginning, birth control and abortion were promoted as a means of effectuating eugenics.
According to the Washington Post, who spoke to seven historians who are experts on the eugenics movement, Thomas’ assertion is "deeply flawed".
Philippa Levine, a history professor at the University of Texas at Austin told the Post:“Thomas is guilty of a gross misuse of historical facts, and especially in the U.S. context” and economist and Historian Thomas C Leonard added that, aside from a constitutional law perspective, what he said is "just bad history".
People online were similarly disinclined to agree with him
@tripgabriel @maggieNYT We owe Justice Clarence Thomas and his dangerous distortions in part to #Biden for teaming… https://t.co/giOKBcfifo— Jane Shay Wald (@Jane Shay Wald) 1559304501
@tripgabriel @maggieNYT Presidents making things up. Attorneys General making things up. Supreme Court Justices making things up. Nice!— Glen Robinson (@Glen Robinson) 1559305027
@tripgabriel @maggieNYT There's something seriously wrong with his brain. So wrong— Lisa Hamilton (@Lisa Hamilton) 1559304029
@tripgabriel @maggieNYT It’s always fun when we have to again refute conspiracy theories from 45 years ago because reading is hard.— dylan (@dylan) 1559310521
@tripgabriel @maggieNYT I believe court decisions based on wrong or misunderstood facts should be summarily thrown out.— Geoff Smith (@Geoff Smith) 1559304193
His comments come as a number of American states push to ban abortion. State legislators in Louisiana backed a bill on Wednesday to prohibit abortions as early as six weeks into pregnancy.
Democrat governor John Bel Adams signed the bill into law on Thursday, prompting mass protests from human rights activists.
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