No. 93-880
Argued: April 28, 1994
Decided: June 30, 1994
[….]
In sum, we uphold the noise restrictions and the 36-foot buffer zone around the clinic entrances and driveway because they burden no more speech than necessary to eliminate the unlawful conduct targeted by the state court’s injunction. We strike down as unconstitutional the 36-foot buffer zone as applied to the private property to the north and west of the clinic, the “images observable” provision, the 300-foot no-approach zone around the clinic, and the 300-foot buffer zone around the residences, because these provisions sweep more broadly than necessary to accomplish the permissible goals of the injunction. Accordingly, the judgment of the Florida Supreme Court is
on writ of certiorari to the united states court of appeals for the first circuit
[June 26, 2014]
Chief Justice Roberts delivered the opinion of the Court.
A Massachusetts statute makes it a crime to knowingly stand on a “public way or sidewalk” within 35 feet of an entrance or driveway to any place, other than a hospital, where abortions are performed. Mass. Gen. Laws, ch. 266, §§120E½(a), (b) (West 2012). Petitioners are individuals who approach and talk to women outside such facilities, attempting to dissuade them from having abortions. The statute prevents petitioners from doing so near the facilities’ entrances….
[….]
Petitioners wish to converse with their fellow citizens about an important subject on the public streets and sidewalks—sites that have hosted discussions about the issues of the day throughout history. Respondents assert undeniably significant interests in maintaining public safety on those same streets and sidewalks, as well as in preserving access to adjacent healthcare facilities. But here the Commonwealth has pursued those interests by the extreme step of closing a substantial portion of a traditional public forum to all speakers. It has done so without seriously addressing the problem through alternatives that leave the forum open for its time-honored purposes. The Commonwealth may not do that consistent with the First Amendment.
The judgment of the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit is reversed, and the case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
It is so ordered.
[….]
“You will never have the comfort of our silence”
A news item:
Daniel Lippman @dlippman
NEW: Justice Brett Kavanaugh had to exit through the rear of Morton’s on Wednesday night after DC protestors showed up out front. A Morton’s rep told me: “Politics … should not trample the freedom at play of the right to congregate and eat dinner.”
[….] 5:41 AM · Jul 8, 2022
The statement from the Morton’s rep: “Honorable Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh and all of our other patrons at the restaurant were unduly harassed by unruly protestors while eating dinner at our Morton’s restaurant.” …
… “Politics, regardless of your side or views, should not trample the freedom at play of the right to congregate and eat dinner. There is a time and place for everything. Disturbing the dinner of all of our customers was an act of selfishness and void of decency.”
Tough shit.
One of many winning responses:
Tippi @TrashFireT
[….]
Sorry but an anti-witch judge from 400 years ago told me I should shout at demons while they’re eating. 7:54 AM · Jul 8, 2022
A few more responses:
“The right to eat dinner.”
Sounds like a privacy right not identified or listed in the Constitution so therefore, it doesn’t exist.
There is no “right” to eat at a restaurant in the Constitution. There is a right to protest though. And Kavanaugh, Alito, Gorsuch, Barrett, Thomas deserve to be protested everywhere they go.
thoughts and prayers and doggie bags
So his night out was aborted?
Which amendment gives him the right to eat dinner? And if you find it, can you tell the millions of Americans who struggle to put dinner on the table every night? I think they might have something to say about the right to dinner.
The real story is who paid for his steak
So it’s ok that my life, as a woman, has drastically changed specifically because of this man, but he should not be allowed to feel uncomfortable? Got it.
If the protestors were outside, how did that trample his freedom to congregate & eat his dinner INSIDE?
If he thinks leaving out the back door is inconvenient wait till he finds out women have to travel to different states for medical care.
In the past five days we’ve covered four different pro-choice demonstrations in Missouri – Sedalia, Jefferson City, Warrensburg, and Kansas City. The smaller demonstrations have been organized at the grassroots level via social media. The weather has been miserable – high humidity and high temperatures. Yet, people show up. That’s what happens when half the country loses their bodily automony on the whim of six right wingnuts.
This is not going away. It’s definitely not over.
I’ve shot close to 2000 frames at these demonstrations.
“…Because you get none”
The image is from the July 3rd demonstration in Jefferson City. The rally had already started. The three individuals were walking on Lafayette toward the federal court building.
One thing we noticed five years ago was that many of our images of protests, demonstrations, and marches taken over the years featured women. It took us a brief second to grapple with the reality that much of the labor in recent activist history has been carried by women. If women are organizing and showing up at demonstrations chances are the images taken at those events are going to be of women.
As is the case with this recent round of pro-choice demonstrations, men attend, but they’re distinctly in the minority.
I suspect there may be different results with other ideologies.
The image may be a harbinger of the future. Confident young women asserting their voices, humanity, and autonomy, accompanied by a supportive friend.
The pro-choice demonstration in front of the federal courthouse in Jefferson City at noon on Sunday was well attended. The humidity and heat were oppressive. The original announcement of the event had the location at the Capitol – it was moved to the federal courthouse (ironically, next to the decrepit and deteriorating old state prison) because there were already July 4th events taking place at the Capitol. And it ended up that there was no march to the Capitol (but a “break off” group apparently did make the trek).
Anyone who has attended a protest on a weekend in Jefferson City knows that there will probably be no one else around to witness it. The site at the federal courthouse is one of the most deserted places in Jefferson City on a Sunday afternoon. In this instance there appeared to be about a dozen people at the entrance of the old prison lining up for a tour. That was a “win” of sorts.
I’m not complaining (other than about the heat and humidity) because I knew I’d get some good images to feed the content beast at Show Me Progress.
“Abort the patriarchy”
This image is from the July 4th demonstration in Kansas City. The rally had started and people were still streaming into Mill Creek Park from all corners (depending on where they parked).
This, too, may be another harbinger of the future. Passing the torch to another generation.
This larger demonstration – it was difficult to estimate the size, but definitely more than 1000 – was more centrally organized. Though, again, word was circulated via social media. The Kansas City metro area obviously has a greater population to draw from. There is a difference.
In Kansas City at the beginning of the rally there were two distinct groupings, with individuals easily moving between them. There were those who lined up on the sidewalks facing traffic and engaging passers by and, those listening to speakers in the park. The host merged again later to march through the Plaza (there are spectacular drone images of the march through the streets). As is customary for demonstrations at this location, many of those who cannot march remain on the sidewalks at the edge of the park to picket facing passing traffic.
Again, the heat and humidity was miserable. And people still showed up.
Media and social media do create audiences, but the point of public protest is to inform, and yes, inconvenience and make others aware of your greivances.
From experience – you don’t necessarily need a large crowd to accomplish those communication goals. One individual on a street corner has a powerful impact, though I would point out there is safety in numbers.
One million people in a street protest in Washington, D.C. does have an impact. Fifty or twenty or two people in every town and city in America has a much greater impact. Over a thousand in a public place out in the heat on a holiday works, too.
It takes a lot of courage to put yourself on the line organizing a public protest event under any circumstances. It takes a lot of courage for an individual to take that step in public on their own. It is a start.
No one will listen to your greivances if they’re not put in a position to actually listen. Polite defference to their sensibilities and convenience will get you nowhere. They’ll only notice you if you’re there, persistent, and inconvenient.
You’re supposed to make people uncomfortable with injustice. We all are.
“Today, staring before 11:00 a.m., in high humidity and with the temperature in the 90s, hundreds of individuals gathered in Mill Creek Park near the entrance to the Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri to rally in support of reproductive rights.
Several hundred lined the sidewalks facing the streets with their picket signs. Hundreds more constantly, also with signs, streamed further into the park for a rally and to hear speakers.
The reaction from passers by was overwhelmingly supportive (this is Kansas City). There was an unending chain of car horns and shouts of solidarity and raised fists from those in the passing cars.
There have been a number of similar demonstrations scheduled across Missouri over the past few days.
There were, of course, scores of creative and informative protest signs…”
“Abort the patriarchy”
“Doctors and patients, not politicians and churches”
“When did my privates become so public?”
“Forced pregnancy is slavery”
“…the system”
“It’s a beautiful day to smash the patriarchy”
“You don’t trust me with a choice but you trust me with a baby?”
“Today, staring before 11:00 a.m., in high humidity and with the temperature in the 90s, hundreds of individuals gathered in Mill Creek Park near the entrance to the Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri to rally in support of reproductive rights.
Several hundred lined the sidewalks facing the streets with their picket signs. Hundreds more constantly, also with signs, streamed further into the park for a rally and to hear speakers.
The reaction from passers by was overwhelmingly supportive (this is Kansas City). There was an unending chain of car horns and shouts of solidarity and raised fists from those in the passing cars.
There have been a number of similar demonstrations scheduled across Missouri over the past few days.
There were, of course, scores of creative and informative protest signs…”
“Today, staring before 11:00 a.m., in high humidity and with the temperature in the 90s, hundreds of individuals gathered in Mill Creek Park near the entrance to the Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri to rally in support of reproductive rights.
Several hundred lined the sidewalks facing the streets with their picket signs. Hundreds more constantly, also with signs, streamed further into the park for a rally and to hear speakers.
The reaction from passers by was overwhelmingly supportive (this is Kansas City). There was an unending chain of car horns and shouts of solidarity and raised fists from those in the passing cars.
There have been a number of similar demonstrations scheduled across Missouri over the past few days.
There were, of course, scores of creative and informative protest signs…”
“Reproductive rights are human rights”
“What about my heartbeat?”
“…Protect women’s rights”
“We will fight”
“We will not be silent!”
“…Not your incubator”
“Just ignore abortions like you ignore mass shootings”
Today, staring before 11:00 a.m., in high humidity and with the temperature in the 90s, hundreds of individuals gathered in Mill Creek Park near the entrance to the Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri to rally in support of reproductive rights.
Several hundred lined the sidewalks facing the streets with their picket signs. Hundreds more constantly, also with signs, streamed further into the park for a rally and to hear speakers.
The reaction from passers by was overwhelmingly supportive (this is Kansas City). There was an unending chain of car horns and shouts of solidarity and raised fists from those in the passing cars.
There have been a number of similar demonstrations scheduled across Missouri over the past few days.
There were, of course, scores of creative and informative protest signs. A personal favorite:
Early this afternoon over a hundred individuals gathered on the Johnson County Courthouse lawn in Warrensburg, Missouri to demonstrate in support of reproductive rights.
They were greeted with supportive car horn honking.
There are a number of such demonstrations scheduled across Missouri over the next few days.
Pro-choice Demonstration – Johnson County Courthouse – Warrensburg, Missouri – July 2, 2022
“Separate Church and State”
“…Abolish the filibuster”
“Someone you love…”
“I support a woman’s right to choose”
“I love someone…”
“Reproductive Rights are Human Rights”
“…Reproductive Rights are Human Rights”
“You will never have the comfort of our silence”
We suspect that’s a warning.
On the Johnson County Courthouse lawn.
Jess Piper (D).
Keep your laws off my body”
Pro choice is not anti-life”
“My body, my choice”
“My private parts should not be up for public debate!”
“Stupidity may be inherited. Ignorance is a personal choice.”
“…We don’t allow ignorant comments out of moderation to be linked with the original post, but we do occasionally present some of them in subsequent posts for the purpose of public derision and mockery. As we see fit…”
We see fit.
Pro-choice demonstration – Sedalia, Missouri – June 30, 2022
A post on yesterday’s pro-choice demonstration in Sedalia, Missouri went viral. Of course, that attractes right wingnuts who attempt to assert their perceived intellectual dominance:
What idiots. They sound retarded it’s not about it’s about the millions of babies they are murdering each day. Ban viagra that’s ok because it still won’t stop God from planting the seed of life ( a baby) in a woman’s uterus. Sure some pregnancies are horrendous in the way they happened but don’t give the baby the death penalty give the rapist instead
Uh, where to start?
“…They sound retarded…” As, say, opposed to illiterate and ignorant? What’s our troll’s excuse?
“…it’s about the millions of babies they are murdering each day…” However you count it – sperm, zygote, fetus, actual baby – that’s a lot at an annual rate. Our troll also appears to have issues with math literacy. That’s not a surprise.
“…it still won’t stop God from planting the seed of life ( a baby) in a woman’s uterus…” Ah, magic. That explains a lot, just not what our troll thinks it does.
They’re so insecure. Why show up here if they believe that they’ve got what they’ve always wanted?
And finally: When someone submits a comment here their email address and I.P. address are linked to the comment.
