I see…new rules? According to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, after 8 successful, peaceful vigils since 2011, 40 Days for Life can’t have signs? And even if this was a statute for some years, why now? Even at Planned Parenthood, where 40 Days Fayetteville holds their vigil, said “the issue was between the state and the protesters, and that her group had no comment.”
The Highway Department has received a faxed letter of protest from a legal firm representing the group, a spokesman confirmed Thursday. The letter alleges that the state is violating the group’s First Amendment rights to free speech.
A letter from the Thomas More Society, who represents the national
40 Days vigils, said: “We respectfully maintain that her directives — attempting to prohibit First Amendment activity on public property, including sidewalks along a state highway — were overly broad and, if enforced, they would be a clear violation of our client’s First Amendment rights.”
40 Days for Life in Fayetteville is the only 40 Days vigil in Arkansas and has seen “better-than-usual participation”, according to Sheena Archambault, coordinator of the 40 Days for Life Campaign. Planned Parenthood of Fayetteville does offer abortion ‘services’ and contraception [abortifacients].
What is interesting is that Planned Parenthood ‘has no opinion’ and seem undeterred while the state of Arkansas is pushing an unconstitutional ordinance on people who are peacefully protesting. Does anyone really know WHO made the complaint about the signs? Planned Parenthood of Fayetteville may not have a public ‘opinion’, but PP has never been….truthful.
Arkansas calls itself a “prolife state” but now shows that they may not be as prolife as the new Governor, Asa Hutchinson, purports to be.
Governor Hutchinson, what is your opinion of this obvious unconstitutional sudden ‘ban’ on signs…or is this a targeted attempt to keep the reality of unborn child killing a secret in The Natural State?
KeepLifeLegal is a supporter of 40 Days for LIFE.
Reblogged this on Expose Sex Ed Now! and commented:
Aren’t signs covered under Free Speech?
Reblogged this on Pro-Life Organizer and commented:
Well, this is quite a controversial article about what is happening in Arkansas.
I just wanted to thank you for publishing this story. I am directly involved with the situation, and agree with everything that you said. I just want to offer one correction about this statement. “40 Days for Life is the only 40 Days vigil in Arkansas and has seen “better-than-usual participation”, according to Planned Parenthood Fayetteville ‘Health Center’. Planned Parenthood did not make that statement. Sheena Archambault, coordinator of the 40 Days for Life Campaign, made the statement.
I apologize for the mix-up, the story seemed to read that way. Keep up the good fight! I may be traveling thru your way in a couple of weeks and will stop by your vigil.
That would be fantastic. I hope you will contact me before you come–we are having a mid point rally on March 10. You can email me at patricia@simplifiedlivingcoach.com
Reblogged this on Catholic Glasses.