The State : 19 Seized in Clinic Protest

Singing “Jesus Loves the Little Children,” 19 demonstrators were arrested after blocking access to a private abortion clinic in Ventura. Organizers of the demonstration--the first such protest in Ventura County--said its timing was incidental to the U.S. Supreme Court decision this week allowing states to bar publicly funded abortions. “Our purpose is to lay our bodies down to rescue the babies scheduled to be murdered today,” said Jill Craft, a spokeswoman for Operation Rescue. The demonstrators sat in the doorway and along the corridor outside Family Planning Associates Medical Group as employees of the private clinic were arriving for work. With the clinic effectively shut, patients and staff members milled around in the parking lot. Also held back were 10 clinic security guards, who were warned by police not to attempt to open the doors or escort patients inside for fear they might inflame the crowd. “This is Ventura,” said Lt. Pat Rooney, “and we’re going to keep the peace.”