Wilmington City Council Approves Protester Buffer Zone for Health Facilities
John Manifold noted this in the Open Thread yesterday, but it is worth its own post.
And this is good news too — the ordinance that the Wilmington City Council approved would require protesters within 100 feet of health care facilities to stay at least 8 feet away from people coming and going into the facility. Protesters can still do their thing, but they can no longer interfere with access to a facility.
The bill was sponsored by Councilwoman Loretta Walsh and additional kudos go to Bud Freel, Kevin Kelley, Charles Potter, Steve Martelli, Hanifa Shabazz, Trippi Congo and Norman Griffiths for doing the right thing in spite of the anti-choice crowd that came out to protest on this.
As noted in the News Journal article on this, the bill passed by the Wilmington City Council on Thursday is closely modeled on Senate Bill 169, which was passed by the Senate last session but is sitting in the Judiciary Committee in the House. Time for the House to get on this, I think.
Tags: Pro-Choice, Wilmington
any legal eagles out there want to compare and contrast this new wilmington law with the Pittsburg buffer zone that was struck down by the 3rd circuit court of apeals in Nov 09?
for extra credit ad analysis of the Mass buffer law that was upheld by the 1st circuit.
If you truly believe that this sort of thing is a good idea and the sort of limit acceptable by under the First Amendment, then you presumably will also support such a buffer zone to be applied to work sites being picketed by unions and military recruiting stations being targeted by anti-war demonstrators.
The fun part about this buffer zone is that these so-called “protests” are not prohibited. Protests interfering with the access and egress of the facility are. So you can still conduct your harassment — oops, sorry protests — just not in the way of business activities. Which seems a reasonable thing to me — no matter what the protest is. No one stops you from your free speech, but you can’t stop the legal business being conducted.
“…military recruiting stations being targeted by anti-war demonstrators” WTF Bob? Get out of the sixties man.
Actually, Jason, such things do still go on. In particular in liberal enclaves like Berkeley.
And cassandra, will you agree with me that the any political entity with such an ordinance ought to impose a similar ban upon union members conducting a picket as a part of a strike must stay at least 8 feet from any employee refusing to join the strike, replacement worker, supplier or customer seeking to enter the premises of the struck business? After all, those union workers can still conduct their harassment — oops, sorry protests — just not in the way of business activities. No one stops their free speech,, but they can’t stop the legal business being conducted.
Heck, maybe that is the way to deal with protesters who decide to harass — oops, sorry protest at the place of work of those who sign petitions opposing gay marriage or who contribute money to pass such measures.
If unions are doing what I see these abortion whackos do, then I’d agree. That doesn’t happen very often — largely because most companies have a natural property border that is already gated or guarded by someone. The protesters at the Wilmington Planned Parenthood don’t just interfere with the people going in, they also harass some of the parents taking their kids to school across the street. It is pretty despicable how indulgent these crazies are.
Right Bob. Take another toke on that doobie and keep on trucking man. Groovey!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkeley_Marine_Corps_Recruiting_Center_controversy#History
stations? Had you written, station – perhaps you’d have a point. On balance though my advice to get out of the sixties till stands. Join us in 2010, we have cell phones and everything. You’ll like it.
Really. If these kids were staking out Marine Corps stations everywhere and everyday they are in operation, you might have an argument. But a one off, is still a one off.
So blocking people from accessing legal businesses — government offices, even — is only bad if it happens a lot.
Got it.
It ain’t about you having principles. it is about your side’s ability to exercise power to limit speech you don’t like.
Interesting that you think that only one group of people have any rights here. And the protesters can still protest. They are not stopped from that. Even though you will ignore all of that to argue against your strawmen.
haven’t people heard of the 10 foot pole rule? why 8 feet?
The bill was sponsored by Councilwoman Loretta Walsh and additional kudos go to Bud Freel, Kevin Kelley, Charles Potter, Steve Martelli, Hanifa Shabazz, Trippi Congo and Norman Griffiths for doing the right thing in spite of the anti-choice crowd that came out to protest on this.
how many of these guys own Bars in Wilmington?