Chicago
Censorship
of Pro-Life Sign?
Dennis Byrne (of the Chicago Tribune) writes about a pro-life
sign displayed on a Chicago street newsstand that appeared and suddenly
disappeared -- along with the newsstand itself -- last week:
One could say that it was just a coincidence that the offending sign
was in the 43rd Ward, which Vi Daley happens to represent, and who
happened to sponsor the bubble ordinance, and who happened to be
honored by Planned Parenthood, which happens to run the clinic.
[Executive Director of the nearby prolife Women's Aid office Susan]
Barrett said she has received no response from Vi Daley's office or the
Chicago Department of Transportation to her inquiries about who ordered
the sign removed. No surprise there. But as this is being written, the
Thomas More Society, a Chicago-based pro-life law center, is preparing
a request under the Freedom of Information Act to smoke out who issued
the order.
The Constitution protects political and commercial speech of all sorts.
JCDecaux signs have advertised booze and featured a bikini-clad woman,
but a tasteful sign that offends political correctness may not have
made the cut.
If the City of Chicago ordered censorship based on content, they may
have a serious constitutional issue on their hands, Byrne writes.
The question from us is, will there be a paper trail to prove what took
place? Very unlikely when things are done the Chicago Way.
Also read...
City
Hall
Denies Newstand Moved over Pro-Life Ad
The Daley administration on Tuesday emphatically denied snatching up a
newsstand outside a North Side abortion clinic because it carried a
controversial ad counseling pregnant women against abortion. The
newsstand that mysteriously disappeared was located on the northwest
corner of LaSalle and Division, roughly 30 feet outside the door of an
abortion clinic operated by Planned Parenthood. On Feb. 9, Aid For
Women purchased an ad on the newsstand with the picture of an
attractive young woman with a concerned look on her face. Above the
picture were the words, “Unplanned Pregnancy? What Now?” Below was the
address and phone number of Aid for Women, a 30-year-old organization
that counsels young women against abortion. The ad was supposed to run
for twelve weeks. Instead, the entire newsstand disappeared after just
ten days. Click
here
for more from the Suntimes.
Contact: Dennis Byrne
Source:
Illinois
Review
Publish
Date:
March
10, 2010
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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.
