Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Police threaten $5000 fine for pro-lifer praying outside Maryland abortion business during COVID-19
Live Action News ^ | April 17, 2020 | Anne Marie Williams |

Posted on 04/17/2020 12:43:10 PM PDT by Morgana

Yet another pro-lifer has experienced harassment for prayerful, peaceful witness on the sidewalks outside of an abortion facility; this time, in Hagerstown, Maryland.

On April 2, 2020, Wanda King and several other pro-lifers praying outside Hagerstown Reproductive Health were approached by city police officers who accused them of violating the state’s stay-at-home order, even though less than 10 people were gathered and all were maintaining social distancing guidelines. At that time, the officers threatened King with a $5,000 for her supposed violation. Before any citation could be issued, a friend drove King home.

One of the pro-lifers then contacted Maryland State Delegate Neil Parrott about the situation, who consulted with the Governor’s Task Force, which announced that it was lawful for the pro-lifers to pray outside of the abortion facility so long as “they continued to walk around the block while staying six feet away from each other and other people.” An email with this information was sent to the Hagerstown Police Chief, along with three follow-up emails. They received no response.

READ: Sidewalk counselors nearly blocked from exercising free speech due to COVID-19 lockdown

Five days later, police officers once again showed up while King and one other person were peacefully, legally praying. Faced with a potential citation once again, King sought legal help from the Thomas More Society, a “national not-for-profit law firm dedicated to restoring respect in law for life, family, and religious liberty,” according to their website. In a statement provided to Live Action News via email, the Thomas More Society commented:

We stand fully prepared to defend the constitutional rights of Ms. King and other pro-life individuals to be outside Hagerstown Reproductive Health to exercise their freedom of speech and religion while practicing social distancing, and we are ready to take immediate court action if necessary. As long as the abortion mill is engaging in business as usual, our clients have a right to be outside on the public sidewalk witnessing to life and offering alternative healthcare options, while of course maintaining social distancing and gathering size limitations.

On April 14th, the Thomas More Society sent a demand letter to the Hagerstown Mayor, Police Chief, and City Attorney demanding that the city of Hagerstown verify immediately King’s and others’ right to pray and witness peacefully without further harassment.

Unfortunately, King isn’t the only pro-lifer harassed for engaging in legal activity outside of an abortion facility, but recent precedent is certainly in her favor. Earlier this week, Live Action News reported that the city of San Francisco will now allow pro-lifers to pray outside of abortion facilities.


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: abortion; freakstate; lockdown; maryland; policestate; prolife; stayathome; tyranny

1 posted on 04/17/2020 12:43:10 PM PDT by Morgana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Maryland ping,


2 posted on 04/17/2020 12:43:31 PM PDT by Morgana ( Always a bit of truth in dark humor.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Morgana

But if she was coming there for an abortion....


3 posted on 04/17/2020 12:45:04 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not Averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 100American; Abundy; Albion Wilde; AlwaysFree; AnnaSASsyFR; bayliving; BFM; Bigg Red; ...

I figure that as long as they’re physically distancing from each other and the — um, customers, it’s perfectly fine for them to be out there.

Maryland “Freak State” PING!


4 posted on 04/17/2020 12:47:49 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Wu Flu! (when I feel heavy metal) Wu Flu! (when I'm pins and I'm needles) Wu Flu!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Morgana

So it’s okay to leave your house to kill your baby but not okay to leave your house to protest that killing. Got it.


5 posted on 04/17/2020 12:55:12 PM PDT by SkyDancer ( ~ Just Consider Me A Random Fact Generator ~ Eat Sleep Fly Repeat ~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SkyDancer

Logic and mercy remains absent in this world.


6 posted on 04/17/2020 1:43:24 PM PDT by HypatiaTaught
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: SkyDancer

So it’s okay to leave your house to kill your baby but not okay to leave your house to protest that killing. Got it.
= = =

Pray from inside your house, and stream it.

Then wait for SWAT.


7 posted on 04/17/2020 1:49:35 PM PDT by Scrambler Bob (This is not /s. It is just as viable as any MSM 'information', maybe more so!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Morgana
From your other post... ...its a sacrament to the left.
8 posted on 04/17/2020 2:13:12 PM PDT by Ouchthatonehurt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Morgana

I would NEVER live in that commie state!


9 posted on 04/17/2020 2:58:59 PM PDT by bantam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bantam

There’s a few good people here.


10 posted on 04/17/2020 3:59:36 PM PDT by NotSoFreeStater (If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Morgana

Again, the police are you enemy, folks. They willingly fall in line again and again and do whatever their tyrant masters demand of them.

JoMa


11 posted on 04/18/2020 2:41:20 AM PDT by joma89 (Buy weapons and ammo, folks.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson