On the January 19th city council meeting, Alderman Karen Elyea, introduced the language for an ordinance that would prevent protesters from coming within 8 feet of a person or vehicle entering or exiting a health care facility, including the Northern Illinois Women’s Center abortion clinic.
The clinic is the front line in the continuing debate over the right to choose. For the residents it is a weekly invasion of privacy, as the protesters use megaphones to broadcast their veiled threats towards Wayne Webster, the owner of the building at 1400 Broadway. In the summer complaints from as far away as two blocks are logged, from the noise interrupting the sleep of residents in the area, as many people work 2nd and 3rd shift in the surrounding neighborhood. In the past protesters have fire bombed, assaulted Wayne, threatened anyone working for the clinic including veiled threats directed towards the UPS driver at his home.
The City of Rockford is caught in the fracas, on one side the protesters have filed a civil suit claiming free speech violations. While the residents have their peace disturbed by noisy protesters and safety of the protesters, patients and workers of the clinic is clearly in danger.
The Catholic church is funding the protesters along with the city of Rockford. Mayor Morissey has directed the city to settle out of court many of the suits filed by the protesters, Kevin Rilott received $26,000 for a frivolous claim in the recent past. All the while sending in city inspectors to find any reason to shut down the clinic, such as a refrigerator in Wayne's office.
For the last 20 years the anti-abortion forces have worked tirelessly to close the clinic. The former Dr Ragsdale was charged with child pornography, when his wife had pictures developed at Lundgren's Photography of their 3 year old daughter in the bath tub nude. Charges clearly motivated by the political leanings of the former States Attorney Paul Logli. The same Paul Logli that made the enemies list of the anti-abortion groups.
I can only think that after the recent SCOTUS ruling on Thursday, that the likelihood of Roe V Wade being turned over is greater now then ever.