Friday July 9, 2010
West Chicago Backs Down, Allows Pro-Life Demonstration at 11th Hour
CHICAGO, July 9, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – On the eve of seeking emergency injunctive relief in federal court, attorneys from the Thomas More Society Thursday secured an agreement from the city of West Chicago to allow a pro-life protest to proceed there Friday morning.
West Chicago officials had notified the Thomas More Society early Thursday that the Pro-Life Action League’s “Face the Truth Tour” protest, which involves people holding abortion signage at busy intersections in various municipalities, would not be permitted to take place Friday morning in that city, due to a new ordinance for demonstrations and protests.
Adopted just this past Tuesday by the city of West Chicago, the ordinance requires would-be demonstrators to apply for a permit at least 90 days prior to a demonstration. The ordinance also allows denial of a permit based on the city administrator’s determination whether he believes a demonstration will negatively affect public “comfort, morals, and welfare.”
After pointing out the various constitutional deficiencies to the city’s attorneys, Thomas More Society attorneys prepared federal court papers to secure an injunction to allow the protest to proceed. Just prior to the initiation of court proceedings, the attorneys for the city agreed to allow the protest and to take a fresh look at the West Chicago demonstration ordinance, with the assistance of the Thomas More Society.
“The West Chicago demonstration ordinance illegally restricts core speech protected by our federal Constitution,” said Peter Breen, Thomas More Society executive director and legal counsel, in a statement Thursday. “By agreeing to allow the peaceful pro-life protest tomorrow and to take a fresh look at that ordinance, the officials of West Chicago have wisely recognized the primacy of our sacred free speech rights.”
“Due to the increased legal action being taken against pro-life people around the country, we will continue to oppose ordinances like these to ensure that pro-life individuals can continue to exercise their rights to peacefully speak, pray and protest,” said Breen.