6 Protesters Charged in First Use of Law to Shield Abortion Clinics
In the first use of a new federal law banning abortion clinic blockades, six demonstrators were charged Monday with blocking access to a reproductive health clinic in Milwaukee.
The constitutional protection to seek an abortion “is a hollow right and a nonexistent choice when a few individuals take it upon themselves to close medical clinics, threaten medical providers and intimidate patients,” said Thomas P. Schneider, U.S. attorney in Milwaukee.
The six protesters allegedly used two vehicles, chains and concrete to block access to Affiliated Medical Services on Saturday, closing the clinic near downtown Milwaukee for about 90 minutes.
If convicted under the law, which President Clinton hailed as a blow against “extremism and vigilantism” when he signed it 11 days ago, the six demonstrators face maximum punishment as first-time offenders of six months in jail and $10,000 fine.
Two anti-abortion groups are challenging the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, commonly called FACE, in court actions in Washington and Alexandria, Va.
The six persons charged in the Milwaukee incident are Dale Robin Pultz, 32; James Daniel Soderna, 31; Michael Charles Suhy, 20; Ronald Dean Brock, 55; Colin Lester Hudson, 46; and Marilyn Ruth Hatch, 43.
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