City of Oakland's Ordinance Discriminates Against Pro-Life Pastor

December 15, 2011

The Life Legal Defense Foundation, on behalf of Pastor Walter Hoye, is seeking a permanent injunction against the city of Oakland, Calif., for its inconsistent enforcement of an ordinance that forbids pro-lifers from approaching women outside abortion clinics, the Christian Newswire reports. The city has only prosecuted people for approaching women within a "bubble zone" if they were trying to persuade them not to have an abortion; pro-abortion "escorts," however, have encountered no punishment for entering the zone. Pastor Hoye was arrested and imprisoned but vindicated by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in July when they ruled that the city was infringing on his freedom of speech by not making the ordinance impartial. So far, though, the city has not complied with the court's decision. "The city is violating the free speech of people who want to protect life," said Dana Cody of the Life Legal Defense Foundation.