11/26/13 BOSTON–The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts has urged the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a Massachusetts law establishing a buffer zone around abortion clinics.
The League has joined an amicus brief filed in the case of McCullen v. Coakley. The plaintiffs in that case seek to overturn the buffer zone law as an unconstitutional violation of free speech.
The case is expected to be heard by the Supreme Court in January.
The law establishing a 35-ft. buffer zone at abortion clinics was passed in 2007 to combat harassment and violence at the clinics. Two clinic employees in Brookline were murdered in 1994.
“The buffer zone does not restrict anyone from expressing their views. It insures safe passage to a clinic for patients and employees, protecting their constitutional right of access free from intimidation,” said Anne Borg, LWVMA co-president.
The LWVMA’s position on women’s reproductive rights dates back to 1972. The League has joined several amicus briefs in abortion rights cases before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, and was a co-plaintiff in a case against Operation Rescue for physically blocking clinics.