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bigtree

(85,974 posts)
Thu Jun 26, 2014, 10:49 AM Jun 2014

Supreme Court rules abortion protesters free to harrass women entering clinics right up to the door

GuardianUS ?@GuardianUS 4m
Breaking: Supreme court rules abortion clinic 'buffer zones' violate First Amendment http://trib.al/LImDiue #SCOTUS

Abortion clinic 'buffer zones' violate first amendment – supreme court
Justices side with seven Massachusetts anti-abortion protesters who said 35-foot buffer zone infringed on free speech

The US supreme court has unanimously ruled that a Massachusetts law imposing a 35-foot buffer zone around abortion clinics violates the first amendment.

The case was brought by seven Massachusetts anti-abortion protesters, who have demonstrated outside the state's three abortion facilities in Boston, Springfield and Worcester. They said the buffer zone was unconstitutional and violates their right to free speech.

Lawyers representing Massachusetts had argued the buffer zones were necessary to stop women from being harassed or prevented from entering clinics by crowds of protestors, and insisted it was impractical to draft legislation that differentiated this from “peaceful conversation”.

Eleanor McCullen, 77, the principal plaintiff in the case and a regular outside the Boston clinic where Roberts works, has said the law has hampered her ability to engage in “sidewalk counselling” with women entering the clinic. She said that before the buffer zone came into effect she and the others filing the challenge dissuaded “hundreds” of women against having abortions by offering support and help with bills.


read: http://www.theguardian.com/law/2014/jun/26/buffer-zone-rule-abortion-clinics-supreme-court



read the opinion: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/scotus-strikes-down-abortion-clinic-buffer-zone?utm_content=buffer7611b&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
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Supreme Court rules abortion protesters free to harrass women entering clinics right up to the door (Original Post) bigtree Jun 2014 OP
Great, violence will now ensue. MohRokTah Jun 2014 #1
escorts and earphones, annabanana Jun 2014 #2
Well jehop61 Jun 2014 #22
Escorts yes, earphones bad idea. Need to be aware. HERVEPA Jun 2014 #26
Fences around their property warrior1 Jun 2014 #3
Fences aren't needed, just parking lots limited to patients and staff. MohRokTah Jun 2014 #6
It's too bad it is necessary, but I think your idea would work. Jenoch Jun 2014 #13
There was a Planned Parenthood clinic built in Illinois a few years ago that did this. MohRokTah Jun 2014 #17
Not always possible, especially in downtown areas of cities. HERVEPA Jun 2014 #27
At first glance, I missed the "n" in "fences" Orrex Jun 2014 #33
*sigh* Coventina Jun 2014 #4
no doubt it will lead to some really ugly confrontations rurallib Jun 2014 #5
I was wondering the same thing about the "free speech zones" A Little Weird Jun 2014 #8
a major step backward rurallib Jun 2014 #12
But that's different.... daleanime Jun 2014 #10
unanimous ruling snooper2 Jun 2014 #7
So of course occupy wall street people and people protesting the Republican convention Johonny Jun 2014 #9
This law was problematic from the start. X_Digger Jun 2014 #11
Guess we are going back to the days of having armed escorts for women seaking medical attention Exposethefrauds Jun 2014 #14
would this decision also effect warrior1 Jun 2014 #15
Then I am free to harass them. hobbit709 Jun 2014 #16
Open Carry when you do if you live in in open carry state Exposethefrauds Jun 2014 #19
Which will cause more hassle for women attempting to enter the clinic. HERVEPA Jun 2014 #28
More than what? hobbit709 Jun 2014 #30
Doesn't work that way. HERVEPA Jun 2014 #32
^^Terrific post Orrex Jun 2014 #34
I read a suggestion ellie Jun 2014 #35
That would be a fine idea HERVEPA Jun 2014 #36
Oh fuck no. bettyellen Jun 2014 #18
So I guess so-called "free speech zones"... ljm2002 Jun 2014 #20
Then why can't we sue local governments that restrict access to political conventions sinkingfeeling Jun 2014 #21
No they didn't dsc Jun 2014 #23
8 feet bigtree Jun 2014 #25
Wait until the "open carry" turds join the abortion clinic protests.... Bigmack Jun 2014 #24
Remember, The filthy disgusting anti choice people want your BIRTH CONTROL randys1 Jun 2014 #29
The problem is that buffer zones of that size are blatantly unconstitutional LittleBlue Jun 2014 #31
 

MohRokTah

(15,429 posts)
6. Fences aren't needed, just parking lots limited to patients and staff.
Thu Jun 26, 2014, 10:54 AM
Jun 2014

The parking lot must directly adjoin the entrance.

Then place no trespassing signs.

The first anti-woman idiot who sets foot on the clinic's property is prosecuted.

 

MohRokTah

(15,429 posts)
17. There was a Planned Parenthood clinic built in Illinois a few years ago that did this.
Thu Jun 26, 2014, 11:03 AM
Jun 2014

The protesters ended up in a vacant lot across the street.

Then the vacant lot posted no trespassing signs and the protesters have nowhere to go because they cannot block public sidewalks with protests.

Orrex

(63,172 posts)
33. At first glance, I missed the "n" in "fences"
Thu Jun 26, 2014, 02:44 PM
Jun 2014

Sort of seemed like a good idea, if they can find the protestors' properties.

rurallib

(62,377 posts)
5. no doubt it will lead to some really ugly confrontations
Thu Jun 26, 2014, 10:53 AM
Jun 2014

it is sickening and truly intimidating.

I wonder then if the so called "free speech zones" where protesters are sequestered at events like conventions are also illegal? Should be.

Johonny

(20,818 posts)
9. So of course occupy wall street people and people protesting the Republican convention
Thu Jun 26, 2014, 10:55 AM
Jun 2014

will be offered the exact same "rights" as people that harass other people on the way to the doctor...

X_Digger

(18,585 posts)
11. This law was problematic from the start.
Thu Jun 26, 2014, 10:56 AM
Jun 2014

It was a restriction of a public space based on speech content.

Walking down the street not speaking, or speaking about something non-related to the clinic? Go on through. Talking about the clinic? Go around.

 

Exposethefrauds

(531 posts)
14. Guess we are going back to the days of having armed escorts for women seaking medical attention
Thu Jun 26, 2014, 10:59 AM
Jun 2014

Yes I remember those days

I also remember all the scared assed women I escorted too, scared for their lives due to religious assholes threatening to kill them.

GD religion


 

Exposethefrauds

(531 posts)
19. Open Carry when you do if you live in in open carry state
Thu Jun 26, 2014, 11:06 AM
Jun 2014

What is they love to spew. An armed society is a polite society

 

HERVEPA

(6,107 posts)
32. Doesn't work that way.
Thu Jun 26, 2014, 02:30 PM
Jun 2014

I've been escorting for 25 years. They won't apologize of course.
The idea is to get the women into the clinic with as little hassle as possible. Stirring things up does nothing positive and makes more problems for the escorts and clinic clients.

However, Rude Pundit's idea of going to their churches and hassling them there is fine with me.

ellie

(6,928 posts)
35. I read a suggestion
Thu Jun 26, 2014, 02:53 PM
Jun 2014

by someone on another site to protest outside those fake abortion clinics to make sure the women entering know they are fake. I wonder how quickly the law would change if the tables were turned.

 

HERVEPA

(6,107 posts)
36. That would be a fine idea
Thu Jun 26, 2014, 02:56 PM
Jun 2014

Problem is, it's hard enough to get enough escorts at our clinics. Not enough people are willing to be engaged.

sinkingfeeling

(51,436 posts)
21. Then why can't we sue local governments that restrict access to political conventions
Thu Jun 26, 2014, 11:18 AM
Jun 2014

and speakers? No more free speech zones!

dsc

(52,151 posts)
23. No they didn't
Thu Jun 26, 2014, 12:05 PM
Jun 2014

They ruled that a 35 foot buffer zone which includes public property such as sidewalks was too large but left in tact the 8 foot buffer zone that they previously ruled was OK.

 

Bigmack

(8,020 posts)
24. Wait until the "open carry" turds join the abortion clinic protests....
Thu Jun 26, 2014, 01:12 PM
Jun 2014

... choice is dead at that point.

Who is going to brave a gauntlet of screaming nutjobs with armed nutjobs mixed in?

randys1

(16,286 posts)
29. Remember, The filthy disgusting anti choice people want your BIRTH CONTROL
Thu Jun 26, 2014, 02:21 PM
Jun 2014

next.

And they want it all, and they want to tell YOU what you can do not just what they can do.

These are stupid people who are going to eventually piss off enough of us that shit gonna happen

 

LittleBlue

(10,362 posts)
31. The problem is that buffer zones of that size are blatantly unconstitutional
Thu Jun 26, 2014, 02:27 PM
Jun 2014

I'm surprised the case got this far. The unanimous ruling is indicative of just how dangerous a precedent this would set if allowed to stand.

Hopefully there are many volunteers to counter these protestors and help women into the clinic. But you just can't arrest someone for protesting on a sidewalk. And I hope the state cooperates by doing something like selling select pieces of surrounding property to the clinics so they can put up proper fencing and walkways.

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