Sidewalk counseling

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"Sidewalk counseling" is a form of pro-life activism which is conducted outside of abortion clinics. Activists seek to communicate with those entering the building, or with passersby in general, in an effort to persuade them not to have an abortion or to reconsider their position on the morality of abortion. ^[1] They do so by trying to engage in conversation, displaying signs, distributing literature, or giving directions to a nearby crisis pregnancy center. ^[1]

Some pro-life organizations offer programs designed to train people in such activism. The American Life League publishes "The Sidewalk Counselor's Guidebook" on its web site. ^[2]

Several jurisdictions in the United States have "buffer zone" laws which limit how close to a clinic protesters can approach. ^[3] In the 1997 court case, Schenck v. Pro-Choice Network of Western New York, pro-life activist Paul Schenck challenged a U.S. destrict court injunction which restricted demonstrations to within 15-feet of four abortion clinics in New York state. The case came before the Supreme Court, where Justices ruled 8-1 to uphold the constitutionality of a "fixed buffer zone" (the area around the clinic inself), but not that of a "floating buffer zone" (the area around objects in transit such a cars or people). ^[4]

In 1995, the Access to Abortion Services Act was passed in British Columbia, Canada. It defines "sidewalk interference" as any attempt at "advising or persuading, or attempting to advise or persuade, a person to refrain from making use of abortion services," or "informing or attempting to inform a person concerning issues related to abortion services. It prevents such activities from being carried out within up to 50 metres of an abortion-providing facility.^[5]

Pro-choice groups have criticized the practice of sidewalk counseling as harassment. ^[6] Pro-life advocates in the U.S. maintain that it is a form of free speech protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. ^[7]

[edit] See also

• Abortion
• Abortion debate
• Access to Abortion Services Act
• Pro-life activism
• Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act
• Schenck v. Pro-Choice Network of Western New York

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} Hill v. Colorado (98-1856) 530 U.S. 703 (2000). Retrieved December 13, 2006.
2. ^ American Life League. (2006). The Sidewalk Counselor's Guidebook. Retrieved December 13, 2006.
3. ^ National Abortion Federation. (2006). Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. Retrieved December 13, 2006.
4. ^ Hudson, David L. Jr. (2006). Abortion protests & buffer zones. First Amendment Center. Retrieved December 13, 2006.
5. ^ Access to Abortion Services Act. Retrieved December 13, 2006.
6. ^ Weiss, Deborah. (2001). "Profiles of 15 Anti-Choice Organizations." Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Retrieved August 23, 2006.
7. ^ Weber, Walter. (n.d.). "Sidewalk Counseling: Still a Constitutional Right." Retrieved December 13, 2006.