Vote No To Chicago Bubble Zone Law

October 8, 2009 by Lisa Krempasky  
Filed under Action Steps

In a direct attack on 40 Days for Life and the rights of local pro-life sidewalk counselors, the Chicago City Council on Wednesday passed a new ordinance intended to cripple 40 Days for Life and silence pro-life free speech within a 50 foot “Bubble Zone” around abortion facilities.

The new city ordinance will not only block sidewalk counseling and pro-life signs within 50 feet of all entrances to an abortion facility, it would also prevent any pro-lifer from being within eight feet of an abortion customer without getting that person’s permission. Anyone found in violation could be fined up to $500.

The law is such a clear violation of First Amendment Constitutional rights that even the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) — no friend of the pro-life movement — sided with local pro-life interests in opposing aspects of the ordinance.

According to observers at the council meetings, a Planned Parenthood representative testified that pro-
life vigils make it difficult for women to reach their “services,” while a representative from a local
late-term abortion facility (that has seen business detrimentally affected by 40 Days for Life) directly mentioned the 40 Days for Life prayer vigil as reason to pass the ordinance.

While this is a setback for the Chicago 40 Days for Life, I want to emphasize that this is NOT merely a Chicago issue. Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry are working aggressively to implement Bubble Zone laws like this across the country.

That’s the bad news. But here’s the good news: ** WE CAN STILL DEFEAT THIS BUBBLE ZONE **

Before this bad law goes into effect, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley has to approve it. We have a narrow
window of time to convince the mayor to VETO the Bubble Zone ordinance.

PLEASE call Mayor Daley’s office immediately at 312- 744-3300 to say: “Mayor Daley, please don’t restrict
freedom of speech in Chicago. VETO the Bubble Zone ordinance!”

So many calls have already been flooding into the mayor’s office that they’ve set up an automated
system for the public to speak out on the Bubble Zone. If you get the automated system, here are the
steps to follow:

1.) CALL Mayor Daley’s office at 312-744-3300

2.) PRESS 1 to submit your opinion on the Bubble Zone ordinance

3.) Then PRESS 2 to vote NO on the Bubble Zone

To send the mayor a fax instead: 312-744-8045

If we don’t push back hard against this clearly unconstitutional law, Planned Parenthood and the rest of the abortion industry will feel empowered to
trample on the rights of pro-life free speech all across the country.

Please act now — while there’s still time!