Posted on 07/01/2003 8:40:35 AM PDT by bedolido
A Planned Parenthood affiliate agreed today to settle a lawsuit brought by three pro-life activists barred from a library the agency ran as part of a public system.
The abortion provider has agreed to pay damages in the suit.
"This is a severe blow to Planned Parenthood's efforts to infiltrate public libraries," said Kelly Shackelford, chief counsel of the Liberty Legal Institute, the organization representing the women. "This should send a message to every level of government, if you team up with Planned Parenthood to push just its viewpoint, a lawsuit is sure to follow."
As WorldNetDaily reported, Planned Parenthood of Central Texas severed its special arrangement with the Waco Public Library System in May, one month after the lawsuit was filed.
Citing violations of free speech and equal access rights, the women sued in federal court after they were barred from Planned Parenthood's Audre Rapoport Library during an open house last October.
The suit said plaintiffs Donna Jernigan, Gloria Orozco, Camille Hinajosa and their children were not allowed to stay at the event after Planned Parenthood officials recognized them as pro-life activists.
"When Planned Parenthood takes on a government role like it did here, it must abide by the Constitution of the United States," said Hiram Sasser, staff attorney assigned to the case. "Clearly, Planned Parenthood felt it was above the law."
Pam Smallwood, executive director of Planned Parenthood of Central Texas, said in May that while the group supports "an individual's right to exercise their First Amendment freedom of speech, we must reserve the right to exclude individuals from our library in order that our security not be undermined."
"Given the level of violence perpetrated on women's health-care providers in the United States, Planned Parenthood of Central Texas simply cannot risk placing our patients and staff in jeopardy," said Smallwood.
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