A pro-lifer was arrested for disorderly conduct outside an abortion clinic in Chicago, home of the “Bubble zone.” The video certainly doesn’t seem to show any disorderly conduct or any approach by pro-lifer Joe Holland towards anyone. In fact, he’s standing completely still praying.
Check it out:
Fox News reports:
A Chicago man says he’s fighting charges of disorderly conduct for simply standing on a public sidewalk and praying.
Joseph Holland, a 25-year-old graduate student at Northwestern University, says he was standing still praying the rosary outside a Planned Parenthood facility in downtown Chicago July 3 when police arrested him for violating the city’s new “Bubble Zone” ordinance.
The law, passed in October, states that a person cannot approach within 8 feet of another person without consent “for the purpose of passing a leaflet or handbill to, displaying a sign to, or engaging in oral protest, education or counseling” within 50 feet from any health care facility.
It also says a person cannot “by force or threat of force or by physical obstruction” intentionally interfere with any person entering or leaving any health care facility.
But Holland says he didn’t approach or interfere with anyone.
There is so much confusion even seemingly among police concerning what the “bubble zone” ordinance actually means. And the pro-aborts are attempting to intimidate pro-lifers by purposefully misconstruing the ordinance.
Prayers for Joe Holland and huzzahs for his courage.
August 2, 2010 at 5:19 pm
I've participated in the 40 Days for Life Vigil for several years. As strange as these laws are, you really have to know what you're getting into before you go there.
If your prayers are interpretted as protest and you therefore need to be 50 feet away, well, you'd better just be safe and get out the measuring tape.
August 2, 2010 at 6:26 pm
I'd say he's got a counter complaint against the Planned Parenthood worker. The video clearly shows *she approached him*, not the other way around. And it's quite clear her intention was "by force or threat of force or by physical obstruction" to prevent his protest.
August 2, 2010 at 9:40 pm
Maybe the pro lifers should wear a bright green vest like the abortion clinic escorts. They could stand at the distance required and maybe could have a real chance to talk to a woman seeking an abortions.
August 2, 2010 at 10:50 pm
The liberal compulsion to murder unborn infants trumps everything else from sanity to civil rights, and has corrupted every society where it is permitted. Joe Holland shows a lot of courage to stand there and pray among those who so despise anyone who truly has compassion for the lives of the innocent and the true welfare of their moms. It's a bigger pity that this happens in a city and state with so many major Democratic politicians who pretend that they are faithful Catholics.
August 3, 2010 at 2:00 am
re lisag:
A couple of people do have the bright green vests, though I haven't seen them used in a while.
re david:
Oh, trust me, we all know the law…better than the police that show up to enforce it!
The point is that Joe didn't violate the bubble zone law, and officers have frequently affirmed, when they actually read the statute, that what he was doing, standing still and praying, is not in violation of the law. A tape measure wouldn't have helped.
The bubble zone law says you're not allowed to "approach" anyone within 8 ft of their person without their permission while being within 50 ft of the door. You are most absolutely not prevented from standing still, not engaging anyone, and praying.
That being said, having stood by that door myself, you don't stand there without knowing that you might get arrested by a cop who decides to take the law into his/her own hands. I know some of us had a pretty good sense that an unjustified arrest was going to happen at some point. Joe was the first. There was actually a second arrest a couple of days later.
August 3, 2010 at 2:31 am
This is an outrage. When I was a police officer years ago I learned that a citizen could resist a false arrest to the point of killing the offending police officer. Catholics throughout the entire country should support this man's defense. This is a terrible violation of his civil rights. The Archdiocese of Chicago should be marshalling support for a Federal investigation and prosecution of the the police officer involved and planned parenthood by the FBI for this obviouse hate crime against a prolife American. This is utter insanity and an injustice that cries out to Heaven for Heaven's vengeance. Vengence is Mine Saith the Lord!
August 3, 2010 at 2:41 am
When will American Catholic's wake up to the fact that they have Rights! Planned parenthood's goons do not have the right to file false police reports and bear false witness. These are fundamental violations of the Ten Commandments and Civil and Criminal Law. Where is the outcry from the Catholic Community and Church in Illinois. Are they all asleep at the wheel?
August 3, 2010 at 4:30 am
I met Joe two minutes before he was arrested. It was pretty sad. Please pray for his strength!
August 3, 2010 at 2:50 pm
I Pray for JOE. Heavenly Father, Please watch over him and keep him Safe. JOE is Pleasing you with his Compassion and his Love. GOD PLEASE BLESS & PROTECT JOE. THANK YOU HEAVENLY FATHER.
August 3, 2010 at 9:23 pm
The comment about this outrageous incident and where is the Catholic church in defending Joe. The fact is our catholic church is and always has been SILENT and gives almost No support ever in this outrage against the killing of innocent little babies in the womb.The late good Fr. Paul
Marx of H.L.I. said that the greatest opposition against defending LIFE is the church, and he's right on!
Matt
August 6, 2010 at 9:16 pm
SILENCE in this case is a sin.
We MUST pray louder, scream at the courts, never cease barking at the heels of the dogs who make the abortion laws.
It's so hard to believe that our country would make it difficult to protest murder but allow a mosk to go up to honor terrorism….The devil is alive and well in the US.
October 27, 2010 at 4:59 pm
That's really unfair, how can they dare to someone who is fighting the rights for human life??? There's a lot of corruption in this world.
October 27, 2010 at 5:01 pm
The comment about this outrageous incident and where is the Catholic church in defending Joe. The fact is our catholic church is and always has been SILENT and gives almost No support ever in this outrage against the killing of innocent little babies in the womb.The late good Fr.
October 27, 2010 at 5:01 pm
I met Joe two minutes before he was arrested. It was pretty sad. Please pray for his strength!