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Congresswoman Katherine Clark speaks with abortion escorts outside Planned Parenthood in Boston on July 12.Office of Katherine Clark

Congresswoman Katherine Clark, D-MA, visited a Planned Parenthood abortion facility Saturday to thank its volunteer abortion “escorts” for helping pregnant women evade pro-life sidewalk counselors who might offer them alternatives to abortion.  She made the visit after the Supreme Court struck down the state’s “buffer zone” law, which required sidewalk counselors and pro-life protesters to stay at least 35 feet away from the clinic.

In a statement, Clark slammed the Supreme Court for its decision, and likened the prayers and assistance offered by most sidewalk counselors to “harassment and intimidation.”

“The Court’s ruling means patients are forced to choose between the medical care they need and being within arm’s length of potential harm, harassment or intimidation,” said Clark. “The walk from a car to a doctor’s office is a very long one for the women who face this fear. Volunteer escorts provide compassion and safety so that these women can access the health care they need and deserve.”

Massachusetts Planned Parenthood applauded the congresswoman’s visit, and praised her for her legislative activism as part of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus.

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“Katherine’s visit at a time like this means a great deal to those who work and volunteer at Planned Parenthood,” said Marty Walz, President and CEO of the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. “In Washington, she’s continuing her long history of fighting for women’s rights, and I’m proud to see her come home to work with us to ensure that women have the ability to make private medical decisions without fear and intimidation.”

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision, Massachusetts officials on Monday introduced a new law aimed at restricting pro-life activity outside abortion clinics.  SD 2106, “An Act to Promote Public Safety and Protect Access to Reproductive Health Care Facilities,” would ban protestors and counselors from blocking abortion facility entryways, and give police the right to disperse groups of two or more protestors who they deem to have impeded entrance to the clinic.  Anyone dispersed by police will have to remain behind a 25-foot buffer zone for the next eight hours. 

The law is on the fast track to passage, with majority support in both houses of the legislature and the endorsement of Gov. Deval Patrick.