City Amends Law Restricting Access to Clinics After Legal Challenge by Anti-Abortion Activists
Minneapolis has amended an ordinance that previously prohibited obstructing entrances and driveways to abortion clinics, following a lawsuit by anti-abortion activists who argued it violated free speech rights.
The City Council quietly revised the law this month, clarifying that constitutionally protected activities are exempt. Additionally, the city agreed to cover the plaintiffs' legal expenses. Brian Gibson, CEO of Pro-Life Action Ministries, claimed this change signified the city’s acknowledgment of violating freedom of speech.
Pro-Life Action Ministries dispatches “sidewalk counsellors” to Planned Parenthood locations in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and other areas to dissuade individuals from undergoing abortions. The ordinance, initially introduced in 2022, aimed to safeguard patients at the Planned Parenthood facility in the Uptown neighbourhood from activists who approached vehicles entering the parking lot. Gibson maintained that their volunteers never blocked any entrances but would offer literature or initiate conversations.
Minneapolis was the only city in Minnesota with such a rule. The lawsuit, filed in 2023, aimed to overturn the ordinance and discourage other cities, including St. Paul, from implementing similar measures.
On 5 December, during a City Council meeting, the ordinance was amended to exempt “any person or group engaging in conduct protected by the United States Constitution, the Minnesota Constitution, or federal or Minnesota law.” However, the law continues to prohibit the physical obstruction of clinic entrances, aligning with the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act).
Aisha Chughtai, vice president of the City Council, emphasised that the amendment preserves access to healthcare, including abortions, while safeguarding First Amendment rights.
Peter Breen, head of litigation for the conservative Thomas More Society representing the plaintiffs, hailed the revision as a victory for free speech. The group plans to seek legal fees estimated at around $600,000.
Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood North Central States stated that despite the amendment, patients remain protected from individuals blocking or obstructing access.
The Thomas More Society continues to challenge similar ordinances nationwide, including in Florida, New York, California, and Michigan, and has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review a related case in Illinois.
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The first day’s journey was through the pink fields
The first day’s journey was through the pink fields
The first day’s journey was through the pink fields