A federal judge ruled yesterday that the City of Oakland's 2008 'bubble' ordinance, which prohibits pro-life protesters outside abortion facilities from standing within 8 feet of women seeking abortions, is constitutional.The law was enacted in response to the efforts of Baptist Rev. Walter Hoye, 52, who has protested for several years outside the Oakland abortion mill, Family Planning Specialists Medical Group. Hoye would approach women to offer alternatives to abortion. He was fined and jailed for 18 days this March and April for breaching the law...
"Mark this day down," Michael Millen of the Life Legal Defense Foundation commented in a press release today. "On this day, a federal court judge ruled that it is constitutional to put someone in jail for a year for holding out a hand with a leaflet."
"While disappointing, this ruling is not entirely unexpected," he continued. "The good news is that while San Francisco federal judges may be loathe to strike down clearly unconstitutional city ordinances, the Ninth Circuit has an admirable record of supporting free speech rights. We are optimistic that this wrong will be righted."
I've mentioned Walter Hoye and his case before (1 and 2), fearing that the remarkably unjust decision against him would stand. Such is the grievous situation in which a black-robed oligarchy (elitist, unelected and without any notion of responsibility to the Constitution) now rules America.
This is a most crucial and urgent matter for prayer. So, please write it down somewhere where you'll be reminded to pray frequently for Walter Hoye, for his friends and lawyers, and for the much endangered cause of free speech in America.
