Supreme Court Sides With Anti-Abortion Protesters In Free Speech Case

Advertisement

2fba17b208dfa403270f6a7067004c33

Associated Press

On the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, anti-abortion protesters marched to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Associated Press

On the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, anti-abortion protesters marched to the U.S. Supreme Court.

2fba17b208dfa403270f6a7067004c33

Associated Press

On the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, anti-abortion protesters marched to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Associated Press

On the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, anti-abortion protesters marched to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that a Massachusetts law that imposes a 35-foot "buffer zone" around abortion clinics violates the First Amendment.

Advertisement

The unanimous decision overturned an appellate court decision that had upheld the Massachusetts law. The lead plaintiff in the case, Eleanor McCullen, argued that she wanted to have "friendly conversations" with women to tell them about alternatives to abortions, as The New York Times has reported.

The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the law blocked places that were traditionally open for free speech - public sidewalks. The government's ability to limit speech in those places is "very limited," the court found.