Toledo ordinance would create buffer zone round abortion clinic

The ordinance would require an 8-foot buffer between abortion protestors and Capital Care Clinic patients who say they don’t want street advice.

TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo’s Last Abortion Clinic is a topic that inspires strong opinions.

So much so that the clinic’s backers are considering a plan that some say will protect patients.

The Capital Care Clinic has employees who are dedicated to the safe care of patients. These employees say the Security Ordinance is needed to prevent people from being harassed.

Pro-life protesters argue that it harms their ability to advise people before they go inside.

“It would potentially jail people like me for taking steps to reach out to needy mothers,” said Peter Range, director of the Office for Life and Justice at Catholic charities.

“You don’t have to stop talking, you don’t have to stop doing anything, you just have to give the patient space, which is common sense and decency, when someone asks you to leave them alone,” said Kristin Hady, Volunteer Clinic – Escort Coordinator.

Range helps organize some protests. He noted that the facility is near a busy street and that his group is already facing other challenges, including the way escorts treat protesters.

Hady calls for the prescription to aid patient choice.

“All we tell them is just so that you know this person is a protester, they are not in the clinic, you are under no obligation to speak to them. I will be ready to go with you if you do.” are ready and if they give you something and you don’t want it, we can take it from you, “said Hady.

“We have escorts on the sidewalk who get in our way and open umbrellas on our faces so we can’t reach the needy mothers. So it is incredibly difficult to reach a mother who is in crisis,” said Range.

The Patient Safety Ordinance would require protesters to keep an 8-foot distance between them and a cared-for woman if they do not consent to counseling.

If someone is found to break this regulation, which includes the 8-foot rule and restricts unwanted contact, they could face a $ 1,000 fine and one year in prison.

Wednesday was just a committee hearing. People who oppose the regulation are asking for another hearing before the vote.

They want time to organize a presentation about their concerns about the regulation.

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