STATE FIGHTS PRO-LIFERS' WIN, DEMANDS THEY CHANGE 'POINT OF
VIEW', Appeals court asked to reject trial judge's decision
clearing them of harassment claim, 9/8/18, WND.
When former New York Attorney General
Eric Schneiderman announced his office’s prosecution of Christians who were
protesting outside an abortion business, he insisted America is “not
a nation where you can choose your point of view.”
Schneiderman has since left the office
amid allegations of sexual misconduct, but his deputies are continuing the
prosecution of the pro-life activists.
The Thomas More Law Center says New York officials have appealed
the case to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
U.S. District Judge Carol Bagley Amon
ruled for the 13 protesters, including Angela Braxton and Jasmine Lalande, both
represented by the center. The decision said they did not violate any laws and
did not harass or intimidate women seeking abortions at the Choices abortion
business in Jamaica Queens, New York.
The decision noted the evidence didn’t
support abortionists’ claims against the protesters. But now state officials
have filed a notice of appeal with the higher court. “Judge Amon’s ruling was a
devastating blow to the attorney general’s office,” said the legal team.
“Last summer, in a highly publicized
press conference held in front of the Choices abortion facility, then-New York
Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman (who later resigned amid allegations of
sexual misconduct), announced his federal lawsuit against the 13 sidewalk
counselors claiming they obstructed, harassed and intimidated women who were
seeking abortions at the Choices facility. He petitioned the federal court
to create a 16-foot buffer zone around abortion premises and
levy fines, attorney fees and compensatory damages against the defendants.” The
trial took weeks last winter and resulted in a loss for Schneiderman. Amon
specifically noted that the abortion business’ witnesses were not credible.
In May, WND reported Schneiderman resigned in disgrace
after being accused by numerous women of physically attacking them. Several of
the women went public with their descriptions of his threats and violent
behavior, including some who were badly injured.
At the time, he was prosecuting
activists Kenneth Griepp, Ronald George, Patricia Musco, Randall Doe,
Osayinwense Okuanghae, Anne Kaminsky, Brian George, Sharon Doe, Deborah Ryan,
Angela Braxton, Jasmine LaLande, Prisca Joseph and Scott Fitchett Jr.
Schneiderman wanted a court order
preventing them from exercising their constitutional right to speech through
trying to persuade women approaching the Choices Women’s Medical Center not to have an abortion.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody
GA Tea Party Leader
No comments:
Post a Comment