Press Release
Humanists Concerned over New Dangers to Providing Reproductive Health Care
For Immediate Release - February 26, 2003
Roy Speckhardt, (202) 238-9088
(Washington, D.C.) The anti-choice community gained significant footing today as the Supreme Court ruled against the National Organization for Women (NOW) in the NOW v. Scheidler case.
The case originated in the 1980s when Scheidler and others from Operation Rescue used scare tactics and occasional violence to harass people entering abortion clinics in an effort to shut the services down. Tony Hileman, executive director of American Humanist Association (AHA) said, "We are very concerned about the safety of patients and employees of women's healthcare clinics. This decision could have a dangerous impact on women's access to essential medical services. Everyone should have the right to enter a building without being harassed. This is clearly a setback to women who may now, or in the future, need the services of a health clinic."
The AHA, along with other members of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice submitted an amicus curiae brief in October supporting NOW. Quoting from the brief: "We see this Court's upholding of the Seventh Circuit's decision as an important step in the ongoing process of vigilantly protecting our constitutional rights while preventing their corruption by the use of force and violence in place of appeals to reason."
John Nugent, AHA treasurer and president of Planned Parenthood Maryland, asserts, "The AHA will continue to defend women's access to health clinics, and their reproductive choices. There is a place for peaceful protest but when it comes to protesters lying in the doorways, destroying property, and violating patients' rights, the line separating peaceful protests from criminal activity is crossed."
Until now the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and the Hobbs Act referred to in this case have provided protection for clinics. Hileman warned, "With this decision, federal remedies are no longer available and most local and state laws do little to keep women and doctors safe. The AHA calls upon legislators to extend protection to clinics before the backlash of unrestrained intimidation proves destructive."
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The American Humanist Association is the oldest and largest Humanist organization in the nation. The AHA is dedicated to ensuring a voice for those with a positive outlook, based on reason and experience, which embraces all of humanity.
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