Abortion foes' wanted posters, Web site are 'true threats'

http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=16266 ^

[MNDude]

AN FRANCISCO — A federal appeals court ruled yesterday that anti-abortion activists who created Wild West-style posters and a Web site targeting abortion doctors are liable because their works were illegal threats and not free speech.

But the sharply divided 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, while calling the works "a true threat," ordered a Portland, Ore., federal judge to reduce the $108.5 million in punitive damages a jury awarded to four abortion doctors and two clinics who sued a dozen abortion foes.

The 6-5 ruling by the full appeals court reverses a March 2001 decision by a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit and upholds a 1994 federal law that makes it illegal to incite violence and threaten abortion doctors.

Many members of Congress and others had said that if the three-judge panel’s ruling had stood, the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act would have been gutted.

Four doctors testified they feared for their lives, and sued under racketeering laws and the 1994 law that makes it illegal to incite violence against abortion doctors. During trial, targeted abortion doctors testified they used disguises, bodyguards and bulletproof vests, and instructed their children to crouch in the bathtub if they heard gunfire.

"I think it says for the abortion and non-abortion community, if you threaten to kill somebody, the law is not going to protect you," said Maria Vullo, an attorney for Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood, an abortion provider, and the doctors were portrayed on Old West-style "wanted" posters passed out at rallies and featured on the Nuremberg Files, a Web site that listed abortion providers' names and addresses and declared them guilty of crimes against humanity.

[MNDude]

This is from 2002, but very relevant in light of today's news. So will the Spike Lee be sued for $10 million?

[Uncle Slayton]

The cases are completely different.

The Wanted Posters published by the Pro Life Activists were intended to Protect Life of the Unborn, while the Wanted Posters published by Black Panther Terrorists were intended to cause harm or death to Capt. Zimmerman.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

Whoever is tweeting these is similar:

http://dailycaller.com/2012/03/29/killzimmerman-twitter-advocates-violence-against-martins-killer/

[GeronL]

does this apply to the Black Panthers and other leftist groups too?

I doubt it

[formosa]

Let me get this straight. Nambla has the right to tell others how to rape little boys and that is free speech, but trying to defend the unborn from murderers is not. This world is held a little tighter each day in the embrace of evil.

[Tomato lover]

Formosa, You said it loud and clear.

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Let me get this straight. Nambla has the right to tell others how to rape little boys and that is free speech, but trying to defend the unborn from murderers is not. This world is held a little tighter each day in the embrace of evil.