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National Abortion Federation Blog: Saporta Reporter

News about reproductive choice from the President and CEO of the National Abortion Federation, Vicki Saporta.

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Friday, February 22, 2008

Massachusetts Attorney General Speaks out in Support of Buffer Zone Law

This week Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley spoke out in support of a recently passed law, which expanded the buffer zone around reproductive health care facilities to 35 feet. Coakley filed a brief in federal court responding to a lawsuit brought forth last month by anti-abortion protesters challenging the law.

The "act does not ban any expressive activity, but instead 'merely regulates the places where communications may occur' during clinic business hours," Coakley wrote in the brief.

Coakley, along with Boston Police Captain Bill Evans, testified in support of this act before the Legislature last year.

>Learn more about buffer zone legislation.

Labels: buffer zone laws, Massachusetts, state legislation

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Massachusetts Governor Signs Buffer Zone Law

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed a law Tuesday expanding the buffer zone around reproductive health care facilities to 35 feet. In 2000, the state passed a law, which designated a "floating" zone of 6 feet, within a larger radius of 18 feet, inside which no one may approach a patient entering a clinic without her consent. However, the vague consent language made it difficult to enforce the law. Officials, including Attorney General Martha Coakley and Boston Police Captain Bill Evans, testified in support of this legislation.

Patrick said the legislation strikes the right balance between freedom of choice and freedom of speech.

Massachusetts now has one of the strongest buffer zone laws in the nation.

>Learn more about clinic protection bills.

Labels: buffer zone laws, Massachusetts, state legislation

Friday, November 02, 2007

Editorial Supports Massachusetts Buffer Zone

The Boston Globe ran an editorial in support of proposed state legislation that would create a fixed 35-foot buffer zone around reproductive health care clinic entrances. The bill would also eliminate the vague consent language present in the current law, which creates a "floating" zone of 6 feet, within a larger radius of 18 feet, inside which no one may approach a patient entering a clinic without her consent. However, the debate over what constitutes consent has made the law difficult to enforce. For this reason, Boston police district Captain William Evans testified in favor of the new bill.

Last week the Massachusetts Senate passed this bill, and this week it was approved in the House as well. The Boston Globe said “the bill protects public safety, medical privacy, and free speech.”

Labels: buffer zone laws, Massachusetts, state legislation

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Massachusetts Senate Passes Expanded Buffer Zone Bill

The Massachusetts Senate passed a bill yesterday which would establish a 35-foot no-protest zone around reproductive health care clinics beginning where clinic property ends. Currently, the state has an 18-foot buffer zone, but anti-abortion protesters continue to harass and intimidate patients. In some cases, protesters have even dressed as police officers and deceived patients. NAF knows from experience that creating or expanding buffer zones around health care facilities can lead to a decrease in violence and harassment, thereby ensuring the safety of patients and staff.

"Women in the Commonwealth have the right to medical care free of violence, harassment, or intimidation," Governor Deval Patrick said in a statement. "The Senate's decision today to widen the buffer zone around reproductive clinics will protect patients from the abuse that so many have encountered as they seek care."

The legislation now heads to the Massachusetts House where it has the support of the Speaker and nearly half of the state representatives.

Labels: buffer zone laws, Massachusetts, state legislation

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Expanded Buffer Zones Needed in Massachusetts

Dianne Williamson’s column in Sunday’s Worcester Telegram & Gazette demonstrates the need for an expanded buffer zone around reproductive health care facilities in Massachusetts. Under the current law, there is an 18-foot buffer zone around reproductive heath care facilities, but protesters may be within the buffer zone as long as they remain at least six feet away from clinic workers and patients. A bill in the state House of Representatives would prevent anti-abortion opponents from coming within 35 feet of clinic entrances.

As Williamson observes outside a local clinic, the current buffer zone law does not protect patients from intimidation. She recounts watching protesters yell and harass patients – even causing one woman to cry as she leaves the parking lot and enters the clinic. One protester in particular appears outside the clinic in a Grim Reaper costume, and ironically refuses to divulge his real name because he doesn’t “want to be harassed.” Unfortunately, the patients who have to walk past this masked anti-abortion extremist are not as lucky.

We know from the experience in Massachusetts and other areas of the country that creating or expanding buffer zones around health care facilities can lead to a decrease in violence and harassment, thereby ensuring the safety of patients and staff.

Labels: buffer zone laws, Massachusetts, state legislation

National Abortion Federation Blog: Saporta Reporter

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Friday, February 22, 2008

Massachusetts Attorney General Speaks out in Support of Buffer Zone Law

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Massachusetts Governor Signs Buffer Zone Law

Friday, November 02, 2007

Editorial Supports Massachusetts Buffer Zone

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Massachusetts Senate Passes Expanded Buffer Zone Bill

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Expanded Buffer Zones Needed in Massachusetts