Issues<\/a>\u00b7By Bridget Sielicki<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal court rules for pro-lifers fighting ordinance to block sidewalk counselors<\/p>\n\n\n\n A federal court in New York awarded pro-life sidewalk counselors a significant victory, ruling that their constitutional rights were violated by a county law aimed at silencing pro-lifers outside abortion facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an August 12 ruling<\/a>, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled in favor of Oksana Hulinsky and Regina Molinelli, two pro-lifers who were unable to provide sidewalk counseling outside abortion facilities in Westchester County for several years due to a county ordinance which restricted pro-life activity near abortion businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Represented by the Thomas More Society, the duo filed their lawsuit, Hulinsky v. County of Westchester<\/em>, in 2022, claiming that the county\u2019s law prohibiting \u201cinterference\u201d outside abortion facilities was unconstitutional. As Thomas More Society reports<\/a>, the ordinance \u201cimposed a litany of severe restrictions on speech and assembly near abortion facilities, intending to restrict pro-life sidewalk counseling ministries in public spaces.\u201d The law firm notes that \u201cthe county has since repealed or amended a number of those provisions in response to the Thomas More Society lawsuit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In its ruling, the Court agreed that the county\u2019s actions in which it \u201ccriminalized large swaths of protected speech\u201d were unconstitutional. Because the plaintiffs were seeking \u201cnominal damages\u201d in the case, the court awarded them $1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Though the ruling is considered a victory, Thomas More Society said that it intends to appeal a prior court\u2019s ruling that upheld a provision on \u201cfollowing and harassing,\u201d noting that \u201cthe law vaguely defines [this] as ignoring an \u2018implied request to cease\u2019 on a public sidewalk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis ruling sends a powerful message to municipalities nationwide: vague laws targeting pro-life speech will not stand,\u201d said Christopher Ferrara, Senior Counsel at the Thomas More Society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWestchester County\u2019s pro-life sidewalk counselors seek only to offer compassionate, life-affirming alternatives on public sidewalks\u2014as is their First Amendment right. Westchester\u2019s arrogant overreach tried to silence their voices, but this decision helps reaffirm their constitutional freedom to share the pro-life message.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Follow Live Action News on <\/strong><\/em>Facebook<\/strong><\/em><\/a> and <\/strong><\/em>Instagram<\/strong><\/em><\/a> for more pro-life news.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Issues<\/a>\u00b7By Bridget Sielicki<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Read Next<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Federal court rules for pro-lifers fighting ordinance to block sidewalk counselors Issues\u00b7By Bridget Sielicki Federal court rules for pro-lifers fighting ordinance to block sidewalk counselors A federal court in New York awarded pro-life sidewalk counselors a significant victory, ruling that … Continue reading Key Takeaways:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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