Thursday, October 01, 2009

Chicago City Council Restricts Pro-lifers

Planned Parenthood has successfully lobbied Chicago politicians to discriminate against Christians near abortion clinics by falsely claiming a "significant surge in the size and viciousness" of attacks by pro-lifers.

UPDATE 10/9/09: ACLU sides with pro-lifers against City

UPDATE 10/7/09: Full City Council "seals the deal" against pro-life

-- From "Protection for Abortion Patients: Ordinance" by Susan Ball, NBC TV-5 Chicago 10/1/09

Anti-abortion activists who attempt to dissuade women on their way in to abortion clinics will have to respect an "8-foot bubble" of personal space, the Chicago City Council committee ruled Thursday.

Due to a "significant surge in the size and viciousness" of attacks by anti-abortion activists, employees of Chicago-area hospitals, medical clinics and other health facilities would also be protected within a 50-feet protection zone within the grounds, according to Beth Kanter, a senior vice president with Planned Parenthood, who has called attention to violence at their Near North Health Center facility at Division and LaSalle since May 31 -- the day Kansas abortion doctor George Tiller was shot and killed.

"The local police have been very helpful," Kanter said, "but their hands are tied in what they are able to do without a local ordinance to enforce."

"This is not about safety," said attorney Peter Breen of the Thomas More Society, a pro-life law center, "it's about shutting down a means of protest."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Proposal would protect those seeking abortions" by Fran Spielman, City Hall Reporter, Chicago Sun-Times 9/30/09

Anti-abortion activist Catherine Mieding said she averages “three saves a Saturday” at the Albany Medical Surgical Center, 5086 N. Elston, talking pregnant women out of having an abortion

“You cannot counsel a girl from 50 feet,” said Mieding, who said she’s been doing this for 15 years. “It is absolutely ridiculous … The closer we are to the person, the more compassion we can give to them … I have had girls get out of the car, cry in my arms and turn around and choose life.

The ordinance is patterned after an even-stricter Colorado law that already has passed muster with the U.S. Supreme Court. In Colorado, the radius is 100 feet.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.