Reno Asks for Authority to Halt Harassment at Abortion Clinics

Atty. Gen. Janet Reno asked Congress on Wednesday for new authority to stop blockades, harassment and violence at abortion clinics, rebutting arguments that it would violate First Amendment rights.

Reno, appearing before the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee, reaffirmed the Clinton Administration’s support for a bill designed to crack down on attacks on abortion clinics and intimidation of women and doctors.

She said it was a top priority for the Justice Department and urged lawmakers to speed action so federal agents could work with local law officials before an emergency situation develops. A doctor was killed at a Florida clinic earlier this year, she noted.

Reno said the legislation at issue would strike a balance between the free speech rights of anti-abortion protesters and the constitutional right of women to get an abortion and of doctors to perform them.

She noted that the legislation prohibits certain conduct--the use or threat of force; physical obstruction to injure, intimidate, or interfere with an individual seeking access to abortion services; or destruction of the property of medical facilities.

“The legislation makes clear that it is not intended to suppress a particular message,” Reno said.

But abortion opponents argued that the bill would end up censoring free expression.

“If enacted, (it) would undoubtedly both suppress pro-life speech and insulate the abortion industry, its personnel and clients from hearing the pro-life message,” said Nikolas Nikas, a lawyer for the American Family Assn. Law Center.

Joan Appleton, a registered nurse now with the pro-life movement in St. Paul, Minn., who used to work at an abortion clinic in suburban Washington, said the only way women who wanted to keep their babies could get information was from “sidewalk counselors” protesting outside.

“This bill . . . would jeopardize the only avenue left for women to obtain alternatives to abortion,” Appleton said. But she added that Congress can’t dictate people’s conscience. “All the laws in the world are not going to make the pro-life movement go away.”

The bill establishes new federal crimes for harassing or threatening women and doctors.