Measure expands abortion clinic 'bubble'

[alp227]

Source: SF Chronicle

Antiabortion protesters will no longer be able to stand directly in front of Planned Parenthood and other San Francisco clinics that offer reproductive services if one city supervisor has his way.

Supervisor David Campos is planning to introduce legislation Tuesday that would create a 25-foot buffer zone around the entrances, exits and driveways of those facilities, excluding hospitals. He and supporters of the proposal say it would spare women who use the facilities from harassment.

"We respect the right of people to have freedom of expression," Campos said. "What is happening is more than that - it's intimidation."

A city law passed in 1993 created an 8-foot "bubble zone" around anyone who is within 100 feet of a health care facility, but Campos said that has been ineffective. Demonstrators, he said, get around the law by staying in one spot and not approaching clinic visitors.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Measure-expands-abortion-clinic-bubble-4362302.php

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In the wake of North Dakota, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, and other Republican states going back in time and defying Roe v. Wade, San Francisco Supervisor Campos is a refreshing change.

[LeftyMom]

1. Will this do something about the wheelchair-using protester abusing the law to block access?

http://missionlocal.org/2012/11/planned-parenthood-and-pro-life-advocates-clash-over-space-in-front-of-valencia-st-clinic/

"The protesters are using a San Francisco exemption that allows wheelchairs to remain in white zones designated as a pick-up/drop-off area in front of the clinic.

“If I was near the street, it wouldn’t be as good as right in front of the door,” Hathaway said.

Hathaway said that she has early onset arthritis in her hips that requires her to use a wheelchair at times, although not continuously. She said she runs a pet-sitting business in San Mateo. A website detailing her services includes photos of Hathaway walking dogs.

She has not always been pro-life, she said. A re-establishment of her Catholic faith — she attends St. Mark’s church in Belmont — propelled her to become active in the movement."

[love_katz]

2. Seems like this is the only good news today.

Hooray for David Campos!

[freshwest]

4. +1

[ReRe]

3. 25 ft?

25 ft? Should be at least 100 ft. Either that or get some of those cages that GW put protesters in, three blocks away. Yeah, 3 blocks away, how many feet is that?

[Judi Lynn]

7. Exactly right. What was good for US under Bush 2000-2008 as "Free Speech Zones"

should be good for the same country now.

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[ReRe]

8. Precedent...

... and all. Thanks for the pictorials, Judy Lynn...

[kdmorris]

5. In light of the other states' return to the 19th century

this is good news indeed...hope it makes it into law!

[cali]

6. This is not unprecedented

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_protection_of_access_to_abortion#.22Buffer_zone.22_laws

http://liveactionnews.org/city-council-passes-buffer-zone-to-push-pro-lifers-away-from-abortion-clinic/