The Independence Law Center won two cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit involving the use of a public alley by pro-life counselors outside of an abortion clinic in York, Pennsylvania.
Police, paid for and directed by Planned Parenthood, arrested one pro-lifer for merely entering a public alleyway in order to hand a piece of literature to someone going to the clinic. Another was threatened with arrest for walking while holding a sign in the alley.
The Court recognized that core speech and religious rights were at stake and questioned whether there could be any justification for keeping the pro-life counselors out of the alley, particularly in light of the access given to others. Following the decision, the City agreed to a full settlement of the cases. “We are grateful for the victories,” said the Independence Law Center’s Randall Wenger who argued the cases. “Pro-life counselors should not be denied access to a public place because of who they are or what they stand for. Our hope is that these cases will bring about changes so that pro-life counselors are no longer harassed outside of this or other clinics.”