In what seems to be good news for pro-life advocates, the US Supreme Court on Thursday struck down a Massachusetts law that prohibits protesters from conducting demonstrations within 35 feet of an abortion clinic. According to the highest court in the nation, the buffer zone law violates the protesters' First Amendment rights.
State officials have argued that the establishment of the buffer zones was their response to a series of harassment and violence that occurred at and surrounding abortion clinics in Massachusetts. Buzzfeed noted that one notorious incident was a shooting rampage at two medical facilities back in 1994.
The Los Angeles Times reported then that two women were killed, while five others were injured by a man clad entirely in black carrying a .22-caliber hunting rifle. The women who died were 25 year-old Planned Parenthood Clinic of Greater Boston receptionist Shannon Lowney of Arlington and 38-year-old Preterm Health Services receptionist Leanne Nichols of Salem.
Chief Justice John Roberts reasoned that authorities have other ways to deal with the harassment and violence that occur outside the said clinics. The justice also noted that majority of the problems that has been reported by police and the clinics happened outside the Planned Parenthood facility in Boston, and only on Saturdays, when large crowds typically convene.
Mark Rienzi, who represented the protesters at the Supreme Court, said, "The government cannot reserve its public sidewalks for Planned Parenthood, as if their message is the only one women should be allowed to hear. Today's decision confirms that the First Amendment is for everyone, and that the government cannot silence peaceful speakers."
President Cecile Richards of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, commented, "(The court's decision) shows a troubling level of disregard for American women, who should be able to make carefully considered, private medical decisions without running a gauntlet of harassing and threatening protesters. We are taking a close look at this ruling, as well as patient protection laws around the country, to ensure that women can continue to make their own health care decisions without fear of harassment or intimidation."
