'Pink House' the focus of U.S. abortion fight

The Jackson Women's Health Organization in Jackson, Mississippi, is known locally as the "Pink House" because of it's bubble-gum colored paint job.

It's the last abortion provider in the entire state of Mississippi and the frequent site of showdowns between anti-abortion activists and rainbow-vested volunteers who escort staff and patients to the front door.

Laurie Bertram Roberts is the executive director of the Mississippi Reproductive Freedom Fund.

"It's an abortion desert. You know, Mississippi only has one clinic left, and it's in Jackson, Mississippi - which is right smack dab in the middle of the state - so that means for most people who aren't in central Mississippi, you're talking about at least a one hour drive - if not three hours."

And the future of the "Pink House" and similar clinics in neighboring states, feels threatened like never before.

Last week the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear arguments over a Mississippi law that bans abortions after just 15 weeks of gestation.

The "Pink House" is named in the case.

The court's decision was a victory for anti-abortion groups, who have pushed for new abortion restrictions.

They're hoping the Supreme Court - with its 6-3 conservative majority - will diminish or overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that enshrined a legal right for a woman to terminate her pregnancy.

Eric Scheidler is the Executive Director of the Pro-Life Action League.

"I hope this signals that there's a real serious intention on the part of the justices to try to, you know, correct some of the damage done since Roe v. Wade in the court's rulings on abortion."

Mississippi is one of six states with a single abortion clinic.

Three others border Mississippi - Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee - meaning an overturn of Roe could eliminate legal abortion access for millions of women in the U.S. South.

And abortion rights groups here and across the country view the pending decision with dread, says Roberts.

"This case would pave the way for being able to do more severe bans [flash] you know? If your state only has abortion up to six weeks, you effectively don't have abortion."

The court is not expected to rule on the case until next year.