The city of Minneapolis has amended an ordinance that previously prohibited anti-abortion sidewalk counselors from approaching individuals seeking an abortion at clinics. In 2022, the city enacted the Security of Reproductive Healthcare Facilities Ordinance, which banned obstructing access to or occupying driveways of reproductive healthcare facilities.
In 2023, Pro-Life Action Ministries, an anti-abortion advocacy group, sued the city over the ordinance, claiming it violated freedom of speech rights.
Point phone camera here
Brian Gibson, the group’s chief executive officer, told the Associated Press that Pro-Life Action Ministries sends sidewalk counselors to stand outside abortion clinics and talk to patients entering the parking lot. He said the counselors never block entrances but attempt to get people to roll down their windows and accept literature or have a conversation.
The group claims on its website that its counselors have prevented more than 3,600 abortions.
Minneapolis amended the ordinance to state, “any person or group engaging in conduct protected by the United States Constitution, the Minnesota Constitution, or federal or Minnesota law,” which allows Pro-Life Action Ministries to continue its sidewalk counseling efforts outside abortion clinics.
In short, the group can now approach people seeking abortions as long as they do not block the driveway or clinic entrance.
The Minneapolis City Council also agreed to pay Pro-Life Action Ministries’ legal fees.
“They were accepting fault for having violated our constitutional rights,” Gibson told the Associated Press.
THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS AMENDED AN ORDINANCE – THAT PROHIBITED PRO-LIFE SIDEWALK COUNSELORS FROM APPROACHING PEOPLE SEEKING AN ABORTION AT CLINICS.
IN 2022, THE CITY IMPLEMENTED THE “SECURITY OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE FACILITIES ORDINANCE” WHICH PROHIBITED DISRUPTING ACCESS TO AND OCCUPYING DRIVEWAYS OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE FACILITIES.
IN 2023, PRO-LIFE ACTION MINISTRIES, A PRO-LIFE ADVOCACY GROUP, SUED THE CITY OVER THE ORDINANCE ON THE GROUNDS OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
BRIAN GIBSON, THE GROUP’S CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS PRO-LIFE ACTION MINISTRIES SENDS SIDEWALK COUNSELORS TO STAND ON THE SIDEWALKS OUTSIDE OF ABORTION CLINICS TO TALK TO PATIENTS WHO ENTER THE PARKING LOT. HE SAID THEY NEVER BLOCK ENTRANCES BUT THEY ATTEMPT TO GET PEOPLE TO ROLL DOWN THEIR WINDOWS TO EITHER TAKE LITERATURE OR JUST TO TALK.
ACCORDING TO THE GROUP’S WEBSITE, THEIR COUNSELORS HAVE DOCUMENTED MORE THAN 3,600 BABIES SAVED FROM ABORTION.
MINNEAPOLIS AMENDED THE ORDINANCE TO SAY “ANY PERSON OR GROUP ENGAGING IN CONDUCT PROTECTED BY THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, THE MINNESOTA CONSTITUTION, OR FEDERAL OR MINNESOTA LAW” MEANING SIDEWALK COUNSELORS WITH PRO-LIFE ACTION MINISTRIES CAN CONTINUE ATTEMPTING TO SPEAK WITH PEOPLE SEEKING ABORTIONS AT MINNEAPOLIS ABORTION CLINICS – AS LONG AS THEY DON’T BLOCK THE ENTRANCE TO THE DRIVEWAY OR FACILITY.
MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL ALSO AGREED TO PAY THE LEGAL FEES OF PRO-LIFE ACTION MINISTRIES.
“THEY WERE ACCEPTING FAULT FOR HAVING VIOLATED OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS,” GIBSON TOLD THE AP.
Straight to your inbox.
By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
MOST POPULAR
-
Getty Images
American Airlines temporarily grounded all flights on Christmas Eve
-
Getty Images
Former President Bill Clinton hospitalized
-
Getty Images
Panama Canal, Canada, Greenland: Trump’s early foreign policy targets
-
Getty Images
New ethics report says Matt Gaetz used drugs, paid for sex with minor