Abortion clinic "buffer zone" arrest

http://forerunner.com/ccbc/X0019_Three_abortion_docto.html

Before the abortion clinic closed for good in 2000, there was much protest activity on the public property around the Aware Woman Center for Choice in Melbourne, Florida.

In 1993, Judge McGregor issued an injunction against three organizations and six individuals and all persons "acting in concert" with them. This injunction requires these respondents to stay outside of a 36 foot buffer zone created on public property.

* In 1993, 104 people, none of them named on the injunction, were convicted of violating this injunction. These trials were before a judge who was brought out of retirement from north Florida just for these trials. He was not accountable to the citizens of Brevard county. Also, no jury trial was allowed. All 104 defendants believe that they were unjustly convicted. They were on public property where they had every right to be as members of the public. No judge had ever told them to stay out of the buffer zone.

* In the Madsen case in June of 1994, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the 36-foot buffer zone part of the injunction as it applies to named parties. Since no non-parties were plaintiffs in the case, no ruling was made about the "in concert" clause.

* In the Alf case in the fall of 1995, the U.S. Supreme court refused to hear the case of the 104 non-parties even though it had basically invited this case in the opinion written in the Madsen case. The Supreme Court has refused to give a clear, definitive ruling on the "in concert" part of this injunction.

* After June 1994, there were over 20 injunction violation charges made by the Melbourne Police Department. Not one of these cases was brought to trial. They were all dismissed.

At some point, arrest with the knowledge that there will be no prosecution becomes harassment. Being dragged off to jail, having to post bond, and then having to show up for as many as nine court dates over a period of nine months, as in one defendant's case, just to see the charges dropped is harassment. This is unconstitutional. The sixth amendment to our Constitution guarantees that the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy trial and to be confronted with the witnesses against him.

After two years of court battles and over 20 individual arrests, pro-lifers were able to take back the buffer zone. Graham Dugas, who lives across the street from the Aware Woman Abortuary and its infamous 36-foot buffer zone, took the buffer zone back on Saturday, May 11, 1996. On the previous Thursday, Dugas had successfully defended himself in Court on a buffer zone violation charge. On May 11, he went back into the zone using the same props with the court evidence tags still attached. He was carrying a pro-life sign and the transmitting half of a baby monitor being used as a disposable remote microphone to pick up audio for the video camera when he was previously arrested. He was immediately warned again at which time he left the buffer zone and asked to speak to a supervisor. A lieutenant came out and after some discussion, withdrew the warning. Dugas then went back into the buffer zone and waved everyone over.

About 30 people walked, prayed and picketed in the buffer zone freely for the first time in three years.

Sidewalk counseling took place on the sidewalk again for the first time in almost two years. When Christians pray and counsel women from sidewalks in front of abortion clinics more women are dissuaded from having their babies aborted than when people are not allowed to come within these unconstitutional "buffer zones."

- Meredith Raney

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Graham
• Dugas
• arrest
• 911
• emergency
• buffer
• zone
• abortion
• clinic
• pro-life
• free
• speech

[Nightmarefhk]

this guy is not prooving that he is a free american, he prooves he is a childish idiot.

[libertarianjury]

I'm the most pro-choice (Libertarian) guy in the universe, ...but I think that Graham Dugas (the guy in this video) is a hero to American freedom. He is exactly correct about free speech, and he had the balls to stand up for free speech and jury rights and prove it by getting arrested. Check out his excellent commentary on jury rights at Lewrockwell(dot)com

[TheTechnoPrincess]

I'm an Atheist, a woman, and Pro-life! Abortion is like throwing puppies in a river, because they would be a burden alive to the 'owner'. I don't get it, because abortion is equally as cruel in my view. Unwanted pregnancies are hardly justifiable with so many effective contraceptives out there, and adoption too. Who would say the puppies in my metaphor shouldn't have been adopted out, and instead should have died to benefit their 'owner'?

[bonzai1981]

what about love thy neighbour? all men are equal you know all the crap in the bible that gives some parts of society a purpose...I'm going to get up today because the G.O.D (non denominational reference) says I should. Anyone else get the feeling churches in the U.S are more like cults? Conform to our ways or be shunned for eternity!!! Shunned from what cheap crushed velvet carpet hard wooden benches and a buy them by the dozen faeu wood crucifix. Please religion is a personal thing leave whate

[bluegrassreb1]

i cant believe we live in a place where women can KILL their unborne children! why is it considered a choice? murder is murder, and its ur OWN child! Sick people with no responsibility or morals!! Libs complain bout 1000's dieing in war but they have NO problem with this? stop a heart and be proud of it!!???!!!

[jcr4runner]

@rba719 Not so typical actually. You weren't blocked. I am censoring some of the more lewd comments now so I put everything on comment approval. But you are free to say what you want barring personal attacks with gross language.

[rba719]

@jcr4runner It is when you claim we'd only know better because of a deity. Making that claim assumes we're not intelligent or rational enough to understand that murder is detrimental to our community 'without' religion.

I find it cute that you replied and then blocked me. Typical, but cute. :3

[jcr4runner]

@rba718 What about murder? Is is forcing my religious beliefs down your throat when I try to make murder illegal with capital punishment as a penalty? Is "Thou shalt not kill" a religious belief?

[slipknotlover89]

@hero99a sit there in your wrongness & be wrong it's ok it's only making a total retard out of yourself !!!! =D

[slipknotlover89]

@Nightmarefhk no your wrong !!!!

but you can sit there in your wrongness & be wrong !!!!

[wrestlingwomanfan]

So you can get arrested for trying to save babies but not for killing them? That makes so much sense.

[Artsyliz]

He has a really nice attitude about him. Simple, smart, kind.