Oct 9, 2009 4:01 pm US/Central
Daley To Sign Abortion Protest Restrictions
Mayor Says He Won't Let His Personal Religion Influence His Politics
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Anti-abortion activists march outside City Hall before a City Council vote on an ordinance restricting how close protesters can get to those entering abortion clinics. The ordinance passed 28-13.
CBS
Mayor Richard M. Daley said Friday that he would sign a measure creating a "bubble zone" around hospitals and clinics to protect patients and employees from being harassed by aggressive abortion demonstrators.
"If someone's going into a medical complex and I disagree with them going there, I should not harass or scream and yell at them. It doesn't matter whether it deals with the word abortion or anything else," Daley said at an unrelated news conference at City Hall. "There has to be some civility left in our society. Everybody has the right to demonstrate and picket, but to really use words and other things to frighten people going in to seek advice and assistance – that is another question."
The ordinance, approved by the City Council on Wednesday by a vote of 28-13, prohibits protesters from approaching within eight feet of a patient who is within 50 feet of a health care facility. Violators would be subject to fines of up to $500.
"You want some safety zones for people to be able to freely walk into … medical complexes," Daley said. "I think it's appropriate you address trying to make sure that no one's being harassed."
In what is known as "sidewalk counseling," anti-abortion activists often stop women entering the clinics and advise them not to go through with abortions. In the past, activists have succeeded in shutting down some Chicago abortion clinics, at least temporarily, by blocking entrances.
Anti-abortion activists protested the ordinance on Wednesday, calling it unconstitutional and an infringement on their right to free speech.
Daley said he expects the ordinance will be challenged in court.
"There's always legal questions in regards to lawful picketing, any type of informational picketing," Daley said. "There's a lot of legal questions on that. That deals with the Constitution and other things."
But the mayor said city attorneys are confident the legislation will hold up to legal scrutiny.
Other cities have enacted measures similar to Chicago's. The laws were prompted by the fatal shootings at Boston-area clinics 15 years ago. Courts have generally ruled in favor of the laws. In 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court let stand a lower court ruling upholding a Massachusetts buffer zone.
Many of the 13 aldermen who voted against the ordinance are Roman Catholics. Daley is also Catholic, but is pro-choice, but he said he does not allow his religion to influence his political decisions.
"My religion is very personal," Daley said. "Religion does not play a part when I make a decision on behalf of the people of Chicago. It is a decision I have to make as mayor, not as a Catholic. …That is separate for me."
Planned Parenthood Illinois President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Trombley said after Wednesday's vote that he hoped the ordinance would protect people entering clinics from "the increased level of harassment that we've seen in front of reproductive facilities."
"Patients have a right to enter a facility to get legal medical services without being harassed, without being screamed at, without being surrounded and intimidated," Trombley said.
Joe Scheidler, the national director of the Pro-Life Action League, said after the vote that he would likely bring protest signs with more graphic pictures to future demonstrations as a result of the ordinance.
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