Some of our greatest advances in social justice, such as civil rights for blacks and women, have been in large measure the result of civil disobedience by Americans calling attention to a grave injustice. Now the grave injustice will be perpetrated on those politically incorrect pro-lifers who stand at clinics to point out the outrage of abortion.
Congress is considering a “Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances” bill which would make it a federal offense subject to at least a year in jail for peacefully blocking the entrance to an abortion clinic “with intent to prevent or discourage any person from obtaining reproductive health services. . .” and permit anyone intending to enter or leave the clinic-whether staff, clinic owner, pregnant mother-to sue the pro-life protester for treble damages, including “emotional” distress.
Make no mistake: This is not a bill against violence. There are already laws on the book against violence. This is intended to discourage peaceful sit-ins and sidewalk counseling, and no other activists for any other causes will be subject to this law. The only target is the pro-lifer, who, out of conviction that lives are being destroyed in the clinic, blockades the entrance or tries to provide counsel to the women entering.
The abortion industry has been unable to silence the pro-life movement in any legitimate way, so it has resorted to having our legislators do it for them by means of a bill that will deny to pro-lifers the civil rights accorded to all others.
