As expected, Jackson's new ordinance aimed at abortion protestors is going to court. The Mississippi Institute for Justice announced yesterday it will sue the city of Jackson:
The Mississippi Justice Institute and members of Sidewalk Advocates for Life – Jackson, Mississippi announced a challenge to Jackson’s new prohibition on counseling and other free speech outside the state’s only abortion facility today.
The new ordinance bans individuals who are near health facilities from approaching within eight feet of any person without consent, for the purpose of engaging in various forms of speech such as counseling, education, or distributing leaflets; bans people from congregating or demonstrating within 15 feet of the abortion facility, and bans any amplified sound. Violations of the ordinance could result in fines of up to $1,000 and 90 days in jail.
“Our clients are engaging in quintessential free speech, and they are doing so peacefully and respectfully,” said Aaron Rice, Director of the Mississippi Justice Institute. “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.
“Regardless of what anyone thinks of our clients’ views, we should recognize that they have the right to hold those views. And just as importantly, they have the right to express those views, and to try to convince others to adopt their views. That is the very meaning of a free society.”
In the past five years, Sidewalk Advocates for Life has trained thousands of volunteers to go to abortion facilities to simply offer loving, life-affirming alternatives to abortion. In that time, nearly 7,000 women and families have freely chosen the help provided and given life to their children.
“Women regularly accept our offer to help in the midst of an unexpected pregnancy, said Pam Miller, Co-Leader of Sidewalk Advocates for Life – Jackson, Mississippi. “In fact, in partnership with other peaceful community members, more women than ever – at least 30 this year alone – have opted to take advantage of the free, alternative resources the Jackson community provides. We are committed to connecting women with the loving, life-affirming assistance they deserve, and we will continue to serve the women of Mississippi in a peaceful and law-abiding way.”
The lawsuit was filed in Hinds County Circuit Court.
Actually, the "lawsuit" is a notice of appeal.
Kingfish note: Just curious. Isn't the use of bullhorns and other sound amplification devices already covered by the city's noise ordinance?
42 comments:
If these people hate abortion protests so much, maybe they should move to Communist China. I can't remember the last time I saw a peaceful protest over there.
The solution might be for the police to stop protecting the protestors. It is Jackson after all.
Btw I was in Fondren the other day and noticed that one of the protestors had their vehicle covered in that ridiculous anon conspiracy theory stuff. So they are obviously devoid of critical thinking skills.
Jackson has a noise ordinance, but no way to measure the noise level that will hold up in court. That would require the City to buy and use decibel meters and they aren't going to do that. Apparently, just testifying that something is "too loud" isn't enough for the courts.
and they are doing so peacefully and respectfully,”
HAHAHAHAHA. He either has no idea what "peacefully and respectfully" means or he's never tried to eat lunch at Rooster's when they were out there 'sidewalk counseling' people.
I wonder how these daily protests are going to affect the condos or whatever it is that is being built next to the clinic?
So they are obviously devoid of critical thinking skills.
According to you? LOL
What's wrong with Anon? Read it all the time.
I wonder who’s paying these “protestors” to stand on a sidewalk all day yelling at people. Obviously they aren’t doing this crap for free. Probably the Russians bussing them in and paying their salaries.
"Btw I was in Fondren the other day and noticed that one of the protestors had their vehicle covered in that ridiculous anon conspiracy theory stuff. So they are obviously devoid of critical thinking skills."
BTW, that protester has every right to cover his vehicle in material of his choice. You may not know it, but that's none of your damned business. How did you come by this ability to determine possession of critical thinking skills by merely taking a look? You would be just as useless taking a leak.
I think he meant Q anon. I've seen the vehicle too. It has rabbits and other stuff they believe in.
But don't they still have the right to protest and to counsel the patients, if the patients want to be counseled? It simply sets a distance limit. I assume the argument must be that the distance is unreasonable. Is it?
@10:52
If you honestly believe that a high ranking government official is secretly communicating to you through a (now shutdown) anonymous frog nazi image forum then YES you are deficient in critical thinking skills. I listened to those Q Anon nitwits on base claim for nearly 3 years that Hilary and Obama would be arrested and now we see who is likely to be impeached and imprisoned.
KF...your slavish reading of QAnon is not surprising and it also explains your biz model
I respect people who disagree with the protesters, but you should try to beat them at their own game rather than curbing their free speech. MMMMM....I'm craving Chinese with all of this talk of suppression of free speech. Who's hungry???
What keeps getting missed in the discussion/reporting about noise at the abortion clinic is that the abortion clinic uses a loudspeaker to blare music that is frequently the loudest noise out there. The bullhorns from the pro-life side are in response to the abortion clinic's blatant disregard for the city's noise ordinance.
This is why rich women use an OBGYN who discretely provides the necessary services. There are more than a few in the Metro. Only poor women use that clinic. You know, the ones that would just go on welfare if they gave birth.
This should be so far down on the City's to do list as to be irrelevant. Crime out of control, crumbling infrastructure, a fleeing tax base, and the city wants to task legal funds and enforcement man hours towards this? Meanwhile half of Belhaven is not driveable, the jail is a playground for gangs, and Fondren had to weld bars on their benches to keep bums from sleeping on them.
Since when is stalking patients from clinic to clinic and yelling "murderer," "you're going to hell," "whore," and other such language at them considered "peaceful and respectful"? They don't "counsel," they condemn.
10:45, those aren't condos, it's a boutique hotel. My first thought when I heard about it was, "Who in their right mind would want to build a hotel next to an abortion clinic where there are protests ALL THE TIME?"
What in the actual Eff rabbit hole have you people fallen into? As some one who frequently aborts babies, I will say...the protestors and obnoxious judgey people outside of the clinic are the worst. Do you think your aborted fetus on a poster and bullhorn hatred will change my mind? The people inside the building take care of me and make me feel safe. Try offering kindness and a safe place and people wont ask you to stand across the street.
Honestly, teach your children the difference between what is right and wrong in your opinion and find a way to make a difference in this world...shouting hate from whatever the distance is will never be acceptable.
@11:15
Any person than covers their vehicle in ridiculous political slogans is obviously unhinged and trying to make a very loud statement. The Q Anon conspiracy theory nonsense exposes the person as deficient in critical thinking.
Prior to 2016 most of the Qanon believers were ignorant of Reddit, 4chan, or 8chan. They have no idea the lengths that those people will go for a prank or troll. They have all been duped and it is very, very sad.
The truth is that the lack of cognitive dissonance is stunning. Here you have a group of Americans that are nearly a religious cult in their belief in Q Anon. However, they will become apoplectic arguing that there is no way Russia (or anyone) can use social media and fake news to sway the electorate.
11:35,
KF didn't say he reads Q anon. He is talking about you, and me, and everyone else who comments as "Anonymous" here.
KF...your slavish reading of QAnon is not surprising and it also explains your biz model
Have you grown a set yet?
11:54 Do not confuse the common murder of the unborn with the discreet "procedure" to which the more affluent of society must sometime submit. Such matters are of a confidential nature not to be discussed in mixed company. Please!
10:12, nice whataboutism...these folks are doing what they can to save lives HERE, when was the last time you ever did anything to help anyone?
11:04, you're pathetic, is there anything you believe in enough to volunteer your time for? Not everything is about money.
Oh, and abortion is murder in case you all were wondering.
11:54 is right on the money. if you have middle class money you just go to the doctor and have it done. no shame and problem you can leave that pro-life sticker on your car...
Such loving tolerance on JJ.
To all of you complainers, who probably have never been in that neighborhood, which of your rights are you willing to forfeit? If you are threatened by a group of folks praying the Rosary and speaking truth about the everyone's right to life, you need to grow a set.
I assume that KF has his tongue in his cheek about QAnon, though he probably reads it to see what the Rancid Right is up to that day. I also assume that he follows Rancid Left websites as well. It's all about balance, eh?
The abortion protesters run the gamut, like most such groups. What I see are mostly "holier than thou" types who crave attention. As a singer once sang, "Mostly say 'Hooray for my signs!'" While I'm quoting songs, "We don't need no education. We don't need no thought control." Hey, hypocrites and pharisees, leave those women alone!
Maybe I read it for fun.
I have a question for all of the so called "Pro-Lifers"
Imagine that a fertility clinic is on fire. You are about to escape the burning building and you encounter a room with a newborn baby and a refridgerated case of 100 fertilized embryos.
You only have time to save one. Which do you save from the burning building? The newborn or the fertilized embryos?
Leftism = Filth and Violence via song lyrics, movies, video games and other so-called entertainment MUST BE PROTECTED but if you say something THEY don’t like, especially from young Christians, its HATE SPEECH that MUST NOT be permitted.
Leftist, especially these poor, young, brainwashed, snowflake, millennials are TOO STUPID to understand that while the civil liberties of the people they don’t like are being stripped away, it is just a matter of time before theirs are gone (can you say deer in the headlights???).
No worries for Leftist though since they need a King, Queen or an even more authoritarian type of government to take care of their dumb-asses anyway.
P. S. Hey Burk 2:29PM, its “Mostly say, hooray for our side,” not signs. If you’re going to mix Buffalo Springfield and Pink Floyd lyrics, do your freaking research…and get them right.
Hermit King: A basic rule of debate is to not get suckered into a hypothetical. That sword cuts both ways.
Burke's post is simply a paper tiger. There are extremists on both sides of this argument. But I've noticed that the abortion side is very dismissive of the basic intelligence of their opponents. There are many extremely bright people on the pro-life side. To deny this assertion is to be ignorant or dishonest. I'm not Catholic but "First Things" is one of the very few beacons of clear thought in publishing today. Far too many publications are either chasing ad revenue or they are following their perception of the direction they perceive the wind to be blowing.
Can you say STRAW MAN?
I was eating lunch at Roosters and 2 "ladies" pushed a baby doll in my face.
First, I hope the clinic closes and women would seek adoption over abortion. But, I don't understand why Fondren doesn't seek to have it relocated. It really needs to be in the medical corridor down Woodrow Wilson. I know most of the businesses there would just assume you grab a bite to eat and get an abortion during lunch. Maybe even grab a Chane T to commemorate the big day. But, with all the development, it makes more sense for both to move to a new location.
I'm not pro or anti anything, so I'm not trying to debate. I'm genuinely curious what the pro-life choice would be. The belief is that life begins at conception. So 100 fertilized embryos would be 100 lives. Seemed a good opportunity to ask"Pro-lifers" for an honest answer.
Hermit King,
I will give you the honest Pro-Choice answer. I would save the living and breathing newborn baby.
Don't expect the same honesty from hypocrites who take their teenaged daughter to have a "procedure" on Thursday and are singing in the choir on the following Sunday.
Kermit: I'd reach for the fire extinguisher hanging by the door and put out the fire.
At church, I talked to a woman who volunteers clinic defense there, & she said the protestors were shoving and intimidating staff at Rooster’s.
Haven’t found any news reports. Apparently what happens there, stays there.
The claim that these protesters are " loving" in their approach or have any verifiable proof of having changed anyone's mind is ridiculous.
They are loud and obnoxious and are disturbing the peace. They are better likened to a bunch of drunks yelling and threatening others outside a bar.
Worse, some of them have brought their children with them on blisteringly hot days. Some of those children are young enough to run into the street during their mother's inattention.
They are unaware of how they frightened other children who are eating or shopping with their mothers.
At best, they aren't champions of free speech, they are a bunch of busy bodies who think they have the right to make decisions for people they don't even know.
For all they know, the woman they are badgering could have just been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer or are carrying a fetus with a fatal genetic defect.
They are just puffed up and want to imagine they are superior beings who should be allowed to dictate to others.
"For all they know, the woman....could have been diagnosed with stage four cancer or carrying a fetus with a fatal defect"
For all I know, you're the kind of dolt who makes up shit and throws red herrings, white elephants, unicorns and high-imagination into a conversation for some idiotic, perceived effect. You left out the possibility that some of the women entering the clinic are deluded, not really pregnant, mentally ill and they just think they're going in for an abortion. We need to do more for the mentally ill. Let me sign you up.
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