{"id":255092,"date":"2021-10-13T16:37:10","date_gmt":"2021-10-13T21:37:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=255092"},"modified":"2021-10-13T14:23:39","modified_gmt":"2021-10-13T19:23:39","slug":"california-law-free-speech-restrictions-pro-lifers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/california-law-free-speech-restrictions-pro-lifers\/","title":{"rendered":"New California law could lead to free speech restrictions, pro-lifers say"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

Last Friday, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new state law that pro-lifers fear could be a \u201cTrojan horse\u201d for restricting pro-lifers from peacefully assembling outside abortion facilities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

SB 742<\/span><\/a>\u00a0is purportedly aimed at protecting frontline workers and patients attempting to receive vaccinations (including those for COVID-19) from protestors at vaccination sites, such as hospitals, clinics, doctors’ offices, and pop-up locations. The law stipulates that protestors may not come within 30 feet of anyone who is within 100 feet of the facility, including people in cars<\/em>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A <\/span>press release<\/span><\/a>\u00a0claims that the buffer zone is intended to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, and protect patients and front-line workers from harassment and physical interference. Violators of the law could face a misdemeanor charge, fines, and imprisonment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although the new law appears to have been introduced to address anti-vaccination protests at vaccination sites, pro-lifers are concerned that the legislation could pave the way for unconstitutional restrictions on peaceful pro-life activities, including prayer and sidewalk counseling near abortion facilities. Planned Parenthood recently announced that its facilities are\u00a0<\/span>administering<\/span><\/a> COVID-19 vaccines in the state. And therefore, Planned Parenthood could also be <\/span>classified<\/span><\/a> as a protected vaccination site because it provides other vaccines, like Gardasil, the vaccine to prevent human papilloma virus, an STD.<\/span><\/p>\n

While the original bill restricted speech only \u201cin connection with vaccination services,\u201d that phrase was ultimately removed because the government can only restrict free speech when <\/span>content neutral.<\/span><\/a> However, the removal of the phrase from the final bill could impact the ability of pro-life groups to provide sidewalk counseling, hold signs, and hand out literature \u2014 all of which could constitute \u201charassment\u201d under the new law.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Before the bill was signed into law, the Right to Life League urged the governor to veto the bill on the grounds that it creates an unconstitutional infringement on First Amendment-protected speech. They <\/span>cited<\/span><\/a> Schenck v. Pro-Choice Network of W. New York<\/span><\/i>, a case where the Supreme Court ruled that a 15-foot buffer zone was unconstitutional because it burdens more speech than is necessary.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf a fifteen-foot floating buffer zone is unconstitutional, then the thirty-foot floating buffer zone proposed by SB-742 is unconstitutional,\u201d the group stated on its\u00a0<\/span>website<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u201cSB-742 creates an unconstitutional buffer zone around any vaccination site, defining First Amendment political speech, such as picketing and leafleting, to be forms of harassment. It will chill our First Amendment right to protest.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Concerned that the new law will lead to the infringement of pro-life free speech, Life Legal <\/span>filed a lawsuit<\/span><\/a> in federal court on Tuesday, arguing that lawmakers are using COVID-19 as an \u201cexcuse\u201d to push \u201cbreathtaking restrictions\u201d on First Amendment-protected activities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

READ:\u00a0These three families say \u2018thank you\u2019 to pro-life sidewalk counselors<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cCreating no-approach zones around every abortion facility, drug store, stand-alone health clinic, and supermarket in the state is unconstitutionally over-inclusive and overbroad,\u201d <\/span>said<\/span><\/a> Life Legal Chief Officer Katie Short. \u201cIn an age of unprecedented incursions on freedom, this law is an unheard-of restriction on core First Amendment activities, and we are confident that the federal court will strike down SB 742.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

California Family Council President Jonathan Keller also raised concerns about the legislation, fearing Planned Parenthood will use the legislation as an excuse to restrict pro-life activity.\u00a0<\/span>\u201cVaccination can be controversial, so every person should be free to make the best choice for them and their family,\u201d Keller said in a <\/span>statement<\/span><\/a>. \u201cBut SB 742 is a Trojan Horse attack on the First Amendment rights of all Californians. Groups like Planned Parenthood will use this law to silence peaceful pro-life speech and assembly.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pro-lifers expect the new law to impact the <\/span>40 Days for Life<\/span><\/a> campaign, which plays a vital role in ensuring women are offered options other than abortion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, unconstitutional restrictions on peaceful pro-life assembly in California are far from unprecedented. Just recently, <\/span>Live Action News<\/span> reported<\/span><\/a> that the Napa City Council voted in favor of putting a 30-foot buffer zone into place around the local Planned Parenthood facility.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the days and weeks ahead, California pro-lifers stand ready to continue to fight for their right to advocate for and defend life.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLike\u201d Live Action News on Facebook<\/a>\u00a0for more pro-life news and commentary!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last Friday, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new state law that pro-lifers fear could be a \u201cTrojan horse\u201d for restricting pro-lifers from peacefully assembling outside abortion facilities.\u00a0 SB 742\u00a0is purportedly aimed at protecting frontline workers and patients attempting to receive vaccinations (including those for COVID-19) from protestors at vaccination sites, such as hospitals, clinics, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":809,"featured_media":255114,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false},"categories":[3473,11],"tags":[455,3606,3671,909,12794,13454,34,13453,1001,4710,13452,13451],"yoast_head":"\nNew California law could lead to free speech restrictions, pro-lifers say<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Last Friday, California Gov. 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