Mississippi

TexasTowelie

(116,436 posts) Tue Oct 15, 2019, 11:41 PM Oct 2019

Anti-Abortion Activists Claim Right to 'Shout' at, 'Approach' Patients in Lawsuit

Anti-abortion activists in Jackson claim in a new lawsuit that they have a "right" to "congregate," "shout" and approach patients outside the abortion clinic in Fondren "without first obtaining their consent."

The Mississippi Justice Institute, a conservative legal organization, and members of the local Sidewalk Advocates for Life organization announced the lawsuit on Monday after filing it in Hinds County Circuit Court on Oct. 11.

The Jackson City Council passed an ordinance on Oct. 1 that creates a buffer zone around health-care facilities in the city, effective at the end of this month. It requires demonstrators to stand at least 15 feet away from clinic properties like the Jackson Women's Health Organization—the last abortion clinic in the state, which draws dozens and sometimes hundreds of anti-abortion activists daily.

"Our clients are engaging in quintessential free speech, and they are doing so peacefully and respectfully," MJI Director Aaron Rice said in a press statement. "They care deeply for the unborn and feel morally led to offer life-affirming alternatives to people entering an abortion facility. Jackson's new ordinance is an attempt to silence our clients' speech, and we are proud to stand with them and defend their rights."

Read more: http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2019/oct/15/anti-abortion-activists-claim-right-shout-approach/

Pardon me, but if an activist is shouting to someone, harassing someone, or blocking an entrance, then the activist isn't being respectful.

4 replies

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Anti-Abortion Activists Claim Right to 'Shout' at, 'Approach' Patients in Lawsuit (Original Post) TexasTowelie Oct 2019 OP

Would they like a crowd of noisy shouting disrespectful people to walk in to their church? RainCaster Oct 2019 #1

Free speech is fine. Newest Reality Oct 2019 #2

Do they care deeply enough to guarantee that PoindexterOglethorpe Oct 2019 #3

Only if I can do the same in front of their churches each Sunday morning sinkingfeeling Oct 2019 #4

RainCaster

(11,485 posts)

1. Would they like a crowd of noisy shouting disrespectful people to walk in to their church?

Reply to TexasTowelie (Original post)

Tue Oct 15, 2019, 11:59 PM

Oct 2019

During the service?

Newest Reality

(12,712 posts)

2. Free speech is fine.

Reply to TexasTowelie (Original post)

Wed Oct 16, 2019, 12:03 AM

Oct 2019

When it is used to directly intimidate and harass a citizen, then you are crossing the line. Let's see, you say you respect life and act like an ass towards living beings for the sake of your beliefs. Oh, I remember when Jesus used to harass people all the time. The Apostles were like that too, yelling in the faces of fish mongers and the like.

Don't free speech in my face. Don't free speech to get in my way. Free speech yourself into the air and leave people be. Keep a reasonable distance and you can cross a line and the free speech part starts to turn into something else.

Well, the Battalions of Gilead are emboldened and blessed in the fruit! More to come. We have a Theocracy to build.

PoindexterOglethorpe

(26,570 posts)

3. Do they care deeply enough to guarantee that

Reply to TexasTowelie (Original post)

Wed Oct 16, 2019, 01:16 AM

Oct 2019

those unborn will have prenatal health care? Health care after they are born? A decent place to live? Good schools?

Those only scratch the surface, but are a way to distinguish between genuine "caring deeply for the unborn" and forced childbearing.

sinkingfeeling

(52,958 posts)

4. Only if I can do the same in front of their churches each Sunday morning

Reply to TexasTowelie (Original post)

Wed Oct 16, 2019, 06:57 AM

Oct 2019

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