Disir
Platinum Member
- Sep 30, 2011
- 28,003
- 9,607
- 910
A federal appeals court has ruled that Maine can enforce a law that bars protests that are intentionally loud enough to be heard inside a building.
Last year, a U.S. District Court judge in Portland sided with an ally of an anti-abortion protester who had been shouting outside a Planned Parenthood clinic in Portland, saying that Portland police and state officials could not enforce a provision in state law that protects people who are getting health care services from noisy disturbances.
On Tuesday, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed, saying the law was “content-neutral,” meaning it targeted the noisiness of a protest and did not distinguish between protesters based on their positions on an issue.
“I’m a big defender of free speech, but this law protects people’s rights to free speech while also protecting the rights of everyone to access health care without disruption,” said Maine Attorney General Janet Mills.
“The First Amendment protects the power of speech. It doesn’t protect the power of screech,” said Leanne Robbin, one of the Maine assistant attorneys general who argued the appeal before the Boston-based court.
Maine allowed to enforce law against protests loud enough to be heard inside a building - Portland Press Herald
Sounds about fair.
Last year, a U.S. District Court judge in Portland sided with an ally of an anti-abortion protester who had been shouting outside a Planned Parenthood clinic in Portland, saying that Portland police and state officials could not enforce a provision in state law that protects people who are getting health care services from noisy disturbances.
On Tuesday, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed, saying the law was “content-neutral,” meaning it targeted the noisiness of a protest and did not distinguish between protesters based on their positions on an issue.
“I’m a big defender of free speech, but this law protects people’s rights to free speech while also protecting the rights of everyone to access health care without disruption,” said Maine Attorney General Janet Mills.
“The First Amendment protects the power of speech. It doesn’t protect the power of screech,” said Leanne Robbin, one of the Maine assistant attorneys general who argued the appeal before the Boston-based court.
Maine allowed to enforce law against protests loud enough to be heard inside a building - Portland Press Herald
Sounds about fair.
