Posted on 03/05/2020 6:36:56 PM PST by Morgana
The city council of Spokane, Washington, passed a noise ordinance that allows police officers to cite anti-abortion activists singing and praying outside a Planned Parenthood in the city for noise violations.
The measure, introduced by Councilwoman Lori Kinnear, passed in a 6-1 vote, but anti-abortion activists say it infringes upon their First Amendment rights.
"The city will now be empowered to use police officers to shut up the hundreds of pro-life Christians who regularly pray outside a local Planned Parenthood abortion facility," the Students for Life of America said.
Kinnear said the bill’s purpose is to protect healthcare facilities in the city, not stop anti-abortion activists from holding signs or praying.
Councilwoman Karen Stratton, a supporter of the bill, said: “All we’re asking is that you keep the noise down to a reasonable level.”
Councilwoman Kate Burke said the motion has nothing to do with religion or freedom of speech. Instead, “it’s about healthcare and access to the clinic.”
Kinnear previously tried to shut down the activists, who call themselves the “Church at Planned Parenthood,” according to SFLA.
“After watching body cam footage of police officers assigned to watch over the facility and pro-lifers, Kinnear argued that the police officers should be using current noise ordinance laws. The officers are heard pointing out that at nearby Gonzaga University, there are probably 25 or 30 noise ordinance violations at any time and they don’t try to enforce all of those violations,” SFLA reported.
First violations of the ordinance will result in a civil penalty. Subsequent violations could result in jail time and fines.
"We know that this is about one thing: making it harder for people to hear the truth about abortion and what happens inside abortion facilities every day," SFLA's Washington regional coordinator Karlie Lodjic said. "This is a clear and direct assault on the First Amendment."
1st Amendment (speech).Federal courts.Of course the 9th Circus will uphold this violation of Constitutional rights but it has a 70% rate of overturned rulings by SCOTUS.
All of Wash. needs to preclude ‘hoods likely to transmit the WhooHan virus.
The Councilwoman would prefer the "Silent Scream".
100% certainty unconstitutional.
will go to SCOTUS....
When will that be? They hate to work too hard with a lot of cases so they may go on vacation again. Then next year?
Schumer seems to be allowed free speech even if we aren’t.
All that praying could interfere with the murders going on inside.
When you have lost Spokane, you mighty as well give the state to Canada. It’s fully assimilated.
Trump’s reshaping of ‘Ninth Circus’ appeals court has stopped a lot of ‘liberal judicial activism’
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3820648/posts
A WAY broader version of FS, but there must be a dual justice somewhere in the penumbras of the US Constitution.
Ask RBG...
I’m sure the city council will be just as upset about the noise when the minarets start blaring calls to prayers several times a day.
I will the next time I work up the energy to go to the fitness place and try to keep up with her. Exhausting.
It fails on several counts. For one thing a noise ordinance must include a decibel level and such a level must apply to other comparable activities. Such ordinances shall not be a clear attempt to deprive persons of their 1st Amendment rights. This will be challenged and it will be (at some point) vacated by court order.
How many constitutional violations can there be in a single ordinance? Impressive.
Love it how the Left tramples a speech viewpoint it doesn’t agree with.
Your comment is harsh but ON THE MONEY.
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