Students stand in silence before Planned Parenthood abortion clinic. Photo credit: Bethany Bolen
One of the sponsors of Madison’s bubble zone ordinance has made a motion to reconsider the ordinance during the next Common Council meeting, which is next week on Tuesday. The motion to reconsider acts to suspend the bubble zone ordinance.
The bubble zone ordinance creates a 160-foot-radius zone around Madison abortion clinics, stopping sidewalk-counseling, handing out literature, protesting, etc. within eight feet of a passerby. While the ordinance would apply to any entrance of a “hospital, clinic or office that is used by a licensed physician,” the lawsuit filed by Madison Vigil for Life explains that the ordinance was targeting free speech around abortion clinics.
Matt Bowman, Senior Counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, welcomes the city’s decision to reconsider the ordinance:
No one should want the government to gag speech just because it doesn’t reflect the government’s views or the views of abortionists. For that reason, we are pleased that the anti-speech ordinance did not go into effect as scheduled, and we welcome the city’s attempt to reconsider it in the wake of our lawsuit. We will monitor the city council’s decisions as we continue our fight to protect free speech for the people of Madison.
