New Chicago Ordinance Targets 40 Days for
Life, Tramples Pro-life Americans' Free Speech Rights
"You know a law is an improper intrusion on First Amendment rights when
even the American Civil Liberties Union sides with pro-life interests
in opposing certain aspects of a legislative action," said David
Bereit, national director of 40 Days for Life. "Such is the case with
the new bubble zone ordinance, approved Wednesday by Chicago's city
council, which unconstitutionally restricts the peaceful activities of
pro-life individuals on the sidewalk in front of abortion facilities in
an attempt to cripple the ongoing 40 Days for Life prayer vigils."
The new city ordinance could not only block sidewalk counseling and the
display of pro-life signs within 50 feet of all entrances to an
abortion facility, but it could also prevent any pro-life person from
being within eight feet of an abortion customer without getting that
person's permission. Anyone found in violation could be fined up to
$500.
"This is a serious attack on free speech, and backers specifically
cited 40 Days for Life in city council hearings as the reason for this
measure," said Bereit. "We are asking anyone who loves free speech to
call the office of Mayor Richard Daley and ask the mayor to please veto
the bubble zone ordinance before it takes effect." The phone number for
the Chicago mayor's office is 312-744-3300.
At the downtown Chicago Planned Parenthood location, for instance, this
ordinance could completely block any 40 Days for Life vigil from the
public right of way adjacent to the facility, due to sidewalks which
make it virtually impossible for prayer vigil participants to be more
than eight feet away from abortion customers without stepping into the
busy street. Additionally, if someone were praying out loud, it could
be interpreted as "education" or "counseling" and thus trigger the
provisions of the ordinance.
Bereit said the biggest chilling effect is that "most pro-life
Chicagoans will simply not know what they can or can't do without risk
of a fine, and will thus be forced to stay far away from the abortion
center or not come at all -- the abortion industry's desired effect.
The bottom line is that if pro-life Americans don't push back, more
situations like this will happen all across the country and our rights
will be trampled on more and more by the abortion industry."
Contact: Amber Dolle
Source: 40
Days for Life
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Date: October 8, 2009
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The IFRL is the largest grassroots pro-life organization in
Illinois. A non-profit organization, that serves as the state
coordinating body for local pro-life chapters representing thousands of
Illinois citizens working to restore respect for all human life in our
society. The IFRL is composed of people of different political
persuasions, various faiths and diverse economic, social and ethnic
backgrounds. Since 1973 the Illinois Federation for Right to Life has
been working to end abortion and restore legal protection to those members of the
human family who are threatened by abortion, infanticide and euthanasia. Diverse though we are, we hold one common belief - that
every human being has an inalienable right to life that is precious and must be protected. IFRL is
dedicated to restoring the right to life to the unborn, and protection
for the disabled and the elderly. Click here to learn more about the IFRL.