Daley backs 'bubble zone' law for abortion clinic patients

[Heidi]

Source: Chicago Tribune

Ordinance keeps abortion patients, protesters apart

October 10, 2009

Rejecting appeals from abortion foes, Mayor Richard Daley said Friday he will sign a measure intended to make sure protesters give some space to patients entering clinics.

The City Council voted 28-13 on Wednesday to approve the ordinance, which creates 8-foot "bubble zones" around people who are within 50 feet of a medical facility. Venturing into that space without consent could result in a $500 fine.

Critics said the ordinance violates free speech rights of protesters who want to counsel women out of having abortions. They called on Daley to use his veto power to block the measure from taking effect Nov. 17.

But the mayor sided with supporters who said the new measure will promote patient safety.

"If someone is going into a medical complex and I disagree with them going there, I should not harass and scream and yell at them," Daley said. "There has to be some civility left in our society."


Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-daley-10oct10,0,1656508.story

[47of74]

1. Score one for good people everywhere

Now if they could have an ordinance like that in Dubuque to get all the reich wingers away from the entrance to Planned Parenthood.

[saigon68]

22. Daley said. "There has to be some civility left in our society."

You should see what these NUT JOBS do in my town.

A louder bunch of uncivilized HOODLUMS AND HOOLIGANS I have ever seen. They carry blowup photos of aborted fetuses and scream epithets at the tops of their lungs.

They are Religious Nut Jobs. Carrying Crosses etc. Every now and then some mentally unbalanced rambo decides to come and live out their dream by killing some one. They should be kept well away from the action. Its bad enough to have your daughter who was raped have to deal with this SCUM

[niyad]

29. about those pictures of "aborted" fetuses-- when we used to do counter-protests

at our local PP --I used to look at the pictures, and announce, LOUDLY, that they needed a new upgrade of photo shop, since their fake images were so lousy. when I was informed that the pics were "real", I said, "in that case, I want the name of the medical person who gave it to you so that I can file charges. that is against the law--as is receiving it. so, either give me the name, or I will make sure everyone here understands that these are FAKE"

another person used to have fetal development charts--showing the fetus fully developed and nearly 12 inches long at 6 weeks. I asked how long ago she had flunked biology, because she clearly didn't have a clue.

then there was the fact that one old, oh-so-pious, oh-so-committed, couple, are known to own one of the largest collections of porn in the state (courtesty of a mutual acquaintance) this fact I would proclaim loudly at every protest, asking if they were looking for new material.

[Bette Noir]

2. Good for him.

The people who are trying to block clinic access would serve God better by going home to pray.

[sakabatou]

3. Safety of patients is more important than the protestors

Who knows what the anti-choicers will do now.

[DeSwiss]

4. How about 800 feet?

K&R

[Demeter]

5. How About 2 Counties? Or "Free Speech Zones"?

Yeah, like inside the jail, for instance.

[ThomCat]

6. As a long-time Pro-Choice escort at a doctor's office

for years and years back in the 80s and 90s, I applaud this law, and I Cheer it LOUDLY! :woohoo:

This is absolutely Wonderful! Yay!

These anti-choice wackos think that their "counseling is so damned important, but it's not counseling and it never was. Counseling would be something done IF the woman requested it, before she showed at the office, calmly and quietly and professionally. What these anti-choice wackos are doing is harassing, threatening, intimidating and sometimes terrorizing women as they come into these doctors offices.

I saw the screaming, the threatening, the insults, and the intimidation personally. I saw them chasing patients. I saw them physically confronting guys who came in with the patients. I saw them condemning parents that came in with their daughter.

I saw them photographing the license plates of every patent, openly proclaiming that they could track down patients through people they knew on the police force so they could confront people at home for getting abortions. Fortunately, I don't think they ever really got the home information for more than one or two people. Not many cops were willing to risk the shit storm that would errupt if it was found out that they cooperated with something like that.

I was escorting outside one doctors office the day they assassinated another doctor (Dr. Barnett Slepian) at his home who's office was 2 blocks away.

It is long past time that the law protected woman from these vicious, heartless monster. I hope they will expand this soon to protect the doctors, nurses and other staff too.

:applause:

[boppers]

31. As somebody who has been in your shoes, let me thank you, and offer a beer.

I agree that people practicing medicine, and even science, needs some protection from screaming mobs.

[glowing]

7. Its too bad that its only being adopted in one city.

[MetaTrope]

8. Chicago knows how to deal with protestors

Of course, Daley won't muster up any REAL protection unless it's against peace protestors.

[joeycola]

9. Thank you Chicago.

[dballance]

10. Only 8 feet?

Even the non-smoking laws where I live mandate smokers be 10 feet away from the doors of a business. Cigarette smoke and pro-lifer idiots are similarly odious.

These idiot "pro-lifers" are an evil bunch who forget about the fetuses once they are out of the womb. They're the same ugly idiots carrying guns at rallies and shouting down health care for everyone. They are uneducated fools. The hypocrisy of their positions against abortion and against health care is rich. Make sure all those babies are born they say. But once those babies are born then fuck them and their families. They're on their own after they leave the womb. These idiots only care about a symbolic victory of their pro-life beliefs and not a real victory where their so-called Biblical beliefs might actually have to be backed up by their actions. Jesus didn't say anything about abortion. He did say a lot about helping our fellow man.

If you pro-life idiots really want to put your money where your mouth is then come out in favor of single-payer health care. Be pro-life for a person's whole life and not just the few months a person spends in their mother's womb.

You idiots disgust me.

[laughingliberal]

12. They're actually on their own before birth, too

The RW does not support any programs to make sure women have prenatal care, either. The only thing they want is a guarantee that no one will terminate a pregnancy. If you lose the baby naturally, that's ok especially if you lose it in a way that endangers your life, too.

[AlbertCat]

11. Critics said the ordinance violates free speech rights of protesters who want to HARASS women...

8 feet? They'll just get a megaphone. How about a bubble around the entire clinic....and the parking lot.

[saigon68]

23. If you use a MEGAPHONE to cause a disturbance

WI Statute 947.01: Disorderly Conduct. Whoever, in a public or private place, engages in violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, unreasonably loud, or otherwise disorderly conduct under circumstances in which the conduct tends to cause or provoke a disturbance is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

[davsand]

13. Dubya's "Free Speech" zones were bigger than that--couldn't Chicago model off that?

Seems like the former regime managed to make that distance thing work for several years, I'd think Chicago (or any other city that wanted to) could do the same thing if they so chose.

These protesters are a wart on the ass of women everywhere. I'd love to see action taken in every jurisdiction to protect us from their insanity.


Laura

[fascisthunter]

14. good...

[Odin2005]

15. This is a good idea!

A few months ago I saw these anti-choice morons outside a women's clinic in downtown Fargo harassing the patients. I yelled out a few choice words to the bastards.

[LiberalFighter]

16. I wonder if those that oppose this ordinance would have a problem

if one of their own was harassed while going to an appointment for other procedures?

And... wouldn't someone be arrested if they were harassed if the appointment was for something other than an abortion?

[Rage for Order]

17. This law is clearly unconstitutional

Are Chicago's sidewalks at least 20 feet wide? "8-foot bubble zones around people who are within 50 feet of a medical facility", and "venturing into that space without consent could result in a $500 fine"? Whose consent is needed? What if there are 2 people walking in opposite directions trying to pass each other on the sidewalk within 50 feet of a medical facility? Can you still be fined $500 for walking too closely to someone? Who has to give way in lieu of being fined $500? Does someone have to step into the middle of the street to ensure that they aren't within 16 feet (8 feet for each person, just to be safe) of each other? What a ridiculous law.

[mopinko]

18. oh shut up

don't be an ass.

[BrklynLiberal]

21. ....

:thumbsup: :hi:

[dysfunctional press]

25. 8 feet is 8 feet, not 16.

remedial math is tough stuff, huh? :eyes:

[Rage for Order]

26. You're assuming there will only be 2 people on the sidewalk

People won't want to walk along the edge of the street, or with their shoulder against a building, so you'll need space on either side of the sidewalk. Will people have to walk single file down the sidewalk? Will people be required to carry a tape measure in certain areas to ensure compliance with the 8 foot rule? What if you thought you were 8 feet away but you were really only 7 feet away? This law is well-intentioned but dumb, imho.

[dysfunctional press]

27. "This law is well-intentioned but dumb, imho"

pot: kettle.

kettle: pot.

:hi:

[niyad]

28. are you one of those who actually support those vile protestors? have YOU ever been assaulted by

one of them? have YOU ever had them threaten you, scream at you--and you are not the one going into the clinic--just one of those escorting the women so that they can enter safely? have YOU ever had ugly, vile things shoved in your face,including rosaries and chalices, and phony pictures of "aborted" fetuses? have YOU ever seen the faces of the women going into the clinics, having to run gauntlets of these hate-filled, violent people? Until you have, perhaps you might want to pause a moment to express some concern for the women (and some men) who have

[Arkana]

34. It protects people who are making one of the most soul-rending decisions

of their lives from an angry, stupid, bloodthirsty mob.

No, it's not unconstitutional to protect patients from anti-choice retards.

[mopinko]

19. that's my mayor

probably the only person in chicago who will say they love him, but i love him.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

32. Nah.

A lot of people remember what Chicago was like before Daley.

[mopinko]

35. can you hook me up with these people? i would like to have a beer with them

i am still trying to figure out where the 70% that voted for him are hiding. i could make it a full time job sticking up for him.

[BrklynLiberal]

20. I am very impressed with this...Hope it spreads around.

[Thor_MN]

24. Freedom of speech does not guarantee an audience.

You can say whatever you want, but you are not allowed to force anyone to listen. Forcefully directing your free speech AT someone becomes harrasment and should be prosecuted at such.

The anti-choice people are totally free to fund and create their own clinics that counsel women out of abortions. If they offered services good enough to compete, they would get women to show up. If "the market" decides against a business, the failed business does not go force their products on their competitor's customers.

[Scout]

30. +1000 n/t

[Arkana]

33. Good to hear. Apparently, Daley's still got a soul.

[dugaresa]

36. I remember being harrassed as I walked into Planned Parenthood for routine gyne exam

it was utterly disgusting how the protestors behaved.

I was so pissed off it is the reason I still donate to PP and will continue to do so.

[Akoto]

37. There should be a bubble around the entire facility.

It's a medical complex, not town hall. People should be able to go there and feel as though their well-being is not endangered by loons.