NEWS ALERT: ALL CHARGES DROPPED-The alleged "crime" of "disorderly conduct" in Chicago

This video shows Joe Holland, a grad student at Northwestern U, praying outside the Planned Parenthood abortion facility in Chicago. His conduct was claimed to be a violation of Chicago's "Bubble Zone" ordinance by Planned Parenthood staff, who provoked his arrest shortly after this video was taken. He now stands accused of "disorderly conduct" and is being defended by the Thomas More Society.

***NEWS ALERT***
Thomas More Society Bursts Bubble -- Chicago Drops Charges Against First Arrestee Under City's Abortion Clinic 'Bubble Zone' Ordinance

CHICAGO, Aug. 3 -- This afternoon, in a wake of national attention to the case, the Thomas More Society secured a dismissal of all charges against the first arrestee under the city's "bubble zone" ordinance, which prevents certain types of picketing activity outside local abortion clinics. Joseph Holland, a Northwestern University graduate student, was arrested outside Planned Parenthood's Near North Side facility on July 3 after the facility's staff called the police and claimed he violated the ordinance by praying on the public sidewalk.

"We are pleased that the City of Chicago has dismissed these false and baseless charges against Joe Holland," said Peter Breen, Thomas More Society executive director and legal counsel. "The First Amendment protects prayer on a public sidewalk in Chicago the same as in any other city in the country. We hope that the city will cease the suppression of pro-life speech under the 'bubble zone' ordinance and dismiss the lone remaining case, brought against David Avignone, who was arrested a few days after Joe."

The "bubble zone" ordinance prohibits approaching within eight feet of a person without consent "for the purpose of passing a leaflet or handbill to, displaying a sign to, or engaging in oral protest, education, or counseling." Witnesses and a video of the incident showed Holland standing stationary and praying, but not leafleting, picketing or sidewalk counseling.

Thomas More Society attorneys are also representing David Avignone, the second arrestee under the "bubble zone" ordinance, who was arrested the same week as Holland. Avignone's first court appearance is August 30.

About the Thomas More Society
Founded in 1997, the Thomas More Society is a national public interest law firm that exists to restore respect for life in law. Based in Chicago, the Thomas More Society defends the sanctity of human life, the family and religious liberty in courtrooms across the country. The Society is a nonprofit organization wholly supported by private donations. For more information or to support the work of Thomas More Society, please visit www.thomasmoresociety.org.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• abortion
• bubble zone
• pro-life
• sidewalk counseling

[ThomasMoreSoc]

Comments are now closed. Thank you to all who commented and added to a very robust and spirited debate - the very sort of debate and exchange of ideas secured for us by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

[ThomasMoreSoc]

***NEWS ALERT***

Thomas More Society Bursts Bubble -- Chicago Drops Charges Against First Arrestee Under City's Abortion Clinic 'Bubble Zone' Ordinance

CHICAGO, Aug. 3 -- This afternoon, in a wake of national attention to the case, the Thomas More Society secured a dismissal of all charges against the first arrestee under the city's "bubble zone" ordinance, which prevents certain types of picketing activity outside local abortion clinics. ...

(Full release in description of video)

[wolfofworld]

So you can stand outside a voting location and threaten people and away with it but if you pray outside a abortion clinic you get nailed. Does anyone see the kill baby comparison here.

[SpetsnazChaplain157]

I was shocked when my youth pastor showed this to me. Holland never did anything illegal in this scenario!

[tercor02]

@WonderWomanFan4life We judge all the time. Why does the unborn child have to pay the price? If I don't have a brother, then I should not protest the murder of, let's say, my friend's brother? If I don't have a wife, I should not protest when a man beats his wife?

[giddyupmama]

i don't believe in abortion BUT if Obama's mother believed in abortion? we would be better off right now!

[tercor02]

@mrfunnywaffle So, then it would be wrong to believe in abortion, because it does cause pain to some. We agree!!

[tercor02]

@icuponatree it was an Ark, by the way. Could you enlighten all of us and offer (3) things that have been added to the Bible, seeing that you must be a biblical scholar?  How about just 1?

[Czaendermajer]

this is disorderly in the democratic regime of USA!!!▐▐▐

[negativ90]

What if Obama's mother believed in abortion?