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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We continue to mourn the loss of our friend and colleague, Dr. George Tiller. Dr. Tiller was a dedicated physician who provided quality abortion care to women, at great personal sacrifice and risk. He is truly a hero to his fellow abortion providers and his patients. Dr. Tiller’s office is filled with letters from women, thanking him for the excellent, compassionate care he provided. Many of these women say Dr. Tiller saved their lives.
Since his tragic death, we have received messages from some of his patients and from people around the world who are saddened and outraged. We feel it is important to share these words and tributes to our beloved colleague and friend. For the first time, we will enable comments on our blog so that all of you can share your condolences or offer memories of Dr. Tiller. We invite you to join us in honoring a true American hero, Dr. George Tiller.
Post your comments, condolences, and personal memories of Dr. Tiller
Appeals Court Strikes Down Pittsburgh Buffer Zone Ordinance
Friday, a federal appeals court struck down a Pittsburgh ordinance that created two types of buffer zones around abortion clinics. The ordinance banned protesters from coming within 15 feet of entrances, and also prohibited them from coming within eight feet of people entering and exiting clinics within a 100-foot buffer zone around clinic entrances. The court ruled that either zone, separately, could be legal, but in combination violated the free speech rights of protesters. >Learn more about clinic protection bills. Labels: buffer zone laws, clinic violence
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Federal Judge Upholds Oakland Bubble Zone Ordinance
Tuesday, a federal judge ruled that a 2008 Oakland city ordinance barring abortion protesters from coming within eight feet of women entering and exiting abortion clinics is constitutional. Anti-abortion protester Walter Hoye challenged the ordinance’s constitutionality, and claimed that police applied it unfairly to anti-abortion protesters after he was cited for violating the ordinance last year. However, U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer found the law to be both neutral in content and applied appropriately by police who arrested Hoye. In February 2008, the Oakland City Council unanimously passed the bubble zone ordinance, which allows patients and providers to enter and leave clinics free from harassment and intimidation while preserving free speech rights. >Learn more about clinic protection bills.Labels: access, anti-choice, buffer zone laws, California
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B.C. Bubble Zone Law Upheld
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear a challenge to a provincial law banning protests outside abortion clinics after 11 years of court proceedings. The Court confirmed a unanimous ruling by the British Columbia Appeal Court upholding the Access to Abortion Services Act or “bubble zone” law, which prohibits protesters from coming within 50 meters of reproductive health care facilities. Anti-abortion extremist Donald David Spratt was arrested in 1998 for violating the Access to Abortion Services Act and has been challenging the law ever since. The day after this month’s Supreme Court decision, Spratt and a female protester were arrested outside NAF member Everywoman's Health Centre in Vancouver for again violating the bubble zone law. They are scheduled to appear in court this week. >Learn more about clinic protection bills.Labels: buffer zone laws, Canada, federal legislation
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Bubble Zone Law Upheld in British Columbia
Last week, the British Columbia Court of Appeal rejected an appeal by two anti-abortion protesters who argued that a "bubble zone" around reproductive health care clinics violated their right to freedom of expression. The complainants challenged British Columbia’s Access to Abortion Services Act, which prohibits protestors from coming within 50 meters of reproductive health care facilities. "This means that women will be able to access a medical procedure in a private, dignified and respectful manner, and that staff members will be able to go to work without being harassed on a regular basis," NAF member Jill Doctoroff, director of the Elizabeth Bagshaw Women's Clinic, said Thursday at a news conference in Vancouver. >Learn more about clinic protection bills.Labels: buffer zone laws, Canada
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Anti-Abortion Protester Charged with Violating Oakland Bubble Zone Ordinance
Anti-abortion protester Walter Hoye was due in court today on four misdemeanor charges of violating an Oakland bubble zone ordinance. The bubble zone ordinance protects patients, doctors, nurses, and other employees of reproductive health care facilities as well as volunteer escorts who assist people entering and exiting the facilities. The ordinance prohibits several different behaviors at reproductive health care clinics, including approaching closer than 8 feet for the "purposes of counseling, harassing, or interfering" with someone without the person's consent.In February, the Oakland City Council unanimously passed the bubble zone ordinance. Hoye has been involved in legal challenges to the bubble zone, and last month became the first person cited for violating the ordinance. > Learn more about state Clinic Protection Bills. Labels: access, buffer zone laws, California
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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
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Buffer zone challenged in Pittsburgh
A U.S. District Court heard arguments this week challenging a Pittsburgh, PA abortion clinic buffer zone ordinance containing two provisions: a 15-foot buffer zone around entrances to health care facilities, and an 8-foot personal bubble zone to prohibit protestors from approaching patients and health care workers. Mary Kathryn Brown filed the lawsuit claiming that the requirements violate her rights of free speech and religious freedom. NAF knows from the experience in Pittsburgh 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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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