Antiabortion Activists in Mass. Challenging Expanded Buffer Zone At Abortion Clinics

Boston Globe: Clinic buffer zones face legal challenge:

Antiabortion activists have filed a legal challenge against a new state law that expanded the buffer zone keeping protesters away from abortion clinics, saying the 35-foot zone violates their free-speech rights.

The law is "an unconstitutional regulation designed and intended to ban virtually all citizens from engaging in fundamental rights and liberties on significant portions of public sidewalks and streets" adjacent to abortion clinics, the lawsuit, filed Wednesday in federal court, charged....

A spokesman for the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, which runs three clinics in the state where abortions are provided, defended the new law in an interview.

"This law strikes the appropriate balance between free speech and the right to access health services free from violence, harassment, and intimidation," said Angus McQuilken, vice president of public affairs for the group.