Chicago
Bursts Planned Parenthood’s Bubble, Drops Charges Against 2nd Wrongly
Accused Pro-Lifer
The City of Chicago has yet again dropped charges of “disorderly
conduct” against another pro-life advocate accused by Planned
Parenthood staffers of violating the city’s controversial “Bubble Zone”
ordinance.
David Avignone, an MBA student at Loyola University Chicago, was
arrested on July 8 while standing outside Planned Parenthood’s Near
North Side clinic just five days after police arrested Joe Holland, a
Northwestern University graduate student, while he prayed his rosary at
the same place.
Like Holland, Avignone was accused of violating a city ordinance passed
in 2009 that prohibits individuals in the 50 foot radius of an abortion
clinic from approaching within eight feet of its clients, without
consent, “for the purpose of passing a leaflet or handbill to,
displaying a sign to, or engaging in oral protest, education, or
counseling.”
Holland’s case was dismissed on August 3, after the city dropped the
charges.
The Thomas More Society, which represented both Avignone and Holland,
contend that Planned Parenthood staffers’ accusations of “disorderly
conduct” within the “bubble zone” are meant to intimidate pro-life
advocates, who discovered that they could comply with the ordinance and
carry on their pro-life witness, simply by standing near the entrance
of the clinic, instead of approaching the abortion facility's clients
as they enter.
“We are pleased that for the second time, the City of Chicago has
dismissed the false charges of disorderly conduct against a man who was
properly and legally exercising his First Amendment rights on the
public way,” said Peter Breen, executive director and legal counsel at
the Thomas More Society.
“We hope these two baseless cases involving alleged ‘Bubble Zone’
‘infractions’ show the Chicago City Council why it should repeal this
controversial ordinance altogether and cease efforts to scare pro-life
people away from Planned Parenthood.”
Both the Thomas More Society and the Illinois chapter of the American
Civil Liberties Union have challenged the constitutionality of the law.
Pro-life advocates with the Pro-Life Action League have stated that
Chicago police have previously misinterpreted the ordinance after
getting their interpretation from Planned Parenthood’s employees.
Pro-Life Action League's projects coordinator, Corrina Gura, said that
Planned Parenthood gives the officers "their version of what they wish
the law said, then they ask the police to enforce their imaginary law."
Contact: Peter J. Smith
Source: LifeSiteNews.com
Date Published: August 13, 2010
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.
