Minneapolis advances ordinance halting people from blocking access to abortion providers
MINNEAPOLIS -- Mayor Jacob Frey and the Minneapolis City Council have advanced an ordinance that will prohibit anti-abortion rights protesters from blocking others' access to reproductive health care facilities in the city.
The ordinance was spearheaded by City Council Member Lisa Goodman.
"Abortion rights are not truly a right for all women if there is no access," Goodman said. "This ordinance helps ensure access to reproductive health care in Minneapolis."
There were all smiles from Minneapolis leaders Thursday as Mayor Jacob Frey signed an ordinance months in the making.
"We're signing this in the name of choice, in the name of access, both for women within the city of Minneapolis and around our region," Frey said.
The ordinance, enforced by the Minneapolis Police Department, also would prohibit protesters from occupying driveways to such clinics, and allows the health facilities to install permanent markings on their driveways to indicate the boundaries not to be trespassed upon. Violating the ordinance would result in a misdemeanor charge.
"Abortion is health care and it's critical that everyone feels safe while receiving that care. At a time when other states are trying to block individuals from making their own personal decision, we in Minneapolis are stepping up to affirm their right of privacy," Frey said. "I applaud our Council Members for pushing this important measure forward, specifically Council Member Goodman, who has been at the forefront – ensuring the safety of people accessing reproductive health care."
In support of the ordinance, Planned Parenthood submitted a video from August of an abortion rights opponent shoving a worker at the Minneapolis clinic. Another video shows an anti-abortion activist leaning in to speak to a driver who's pulling into the clinic.
"Patients, staff and volunteers are regularly harassed by protesters. The protesters' actions often cause dangerous traffic and safety concerns around the health center entrance," said Tim Stanley, executive director of Planned Parenthood North Central States.
St. Paul's Pro-Life Action Ministries, an abortion rights opponent, says it doesn't condone the umbrella shove, but if cars stop to talk, they say that's part of free speech. Thomas Wilkin of Pro-Life Action Ministries feels the ordinance criminalizes that, and the organization is exploring legal avenues to fight it.
"The only reason Minneapolis is passing this ordinance is because they want to impinge on free speech that they disagree with, and they're offended that some abortion clients who are freely stopping to receive our literature are more open-minded than they are," Wilkins said.
Mayor Frey said the city and its attorneys are confident the ordinance doesn't violate First Amendment rights.
Earlier this year, Frey signed an executive order banning city staff from giving information to other states or jurisdictions about patients or abortion providers. Several neighboring states have outlawed the procedure following the U.S. Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade in June.