Council Passes Anti-Abortion Harassment Bill
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A new bill was passed Thursday to help women's health clinics stop antiabortion protesters who harass patients outside their offices.
The measure allows police to arrest anyone they see obstructing the entrance to an abortion clinic. It also allows clinics to report complaints about anyone they believe is interfering with their operations.
"This law does not take away people's legal, first amendment rights to peacefully protest. That will still be intact under the law. But what this law does say is that in this most diverse city in the world, we will simply not tolerate someone taking their belief and opinion and acting on it in a way that prevents a woman from getting health care," said City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg supports the bill, but it could still end up challenged in court.