Thomas More Society Again Bursts Bubble – Chicago Drops Charges Against Second "Bubble Zone" Arrestee
CHICAGO (August 13, 2010) – This afternoon, the City of Chicago dismissed its case against the second arrestee charged with disorderly conduct under Chicago's controversial "Bubble Zone" ordinance. Peter Breen of the Thomas More Society represented David Avignone, an MBA student at Loyola University Chicago, who was arrested on July 8 while standing outside Planned Parenthood's Near North Side clinic.
"We are pleased that for the second time, the City of Chicago has dismissed the false charges of disorderly conduct against a man who was properly and legally exercising his First Amendment rights on the public way," said Breen, executive director and legal counsel at the Thomas More Society. "We hope these two baseless cases involving alleged 'Bubble Zone' 'infractions' show the Chicago City Council why it should repeal this controversial ordinance altogether and cease efforts to scare pro-life people away from Planned Parenthood."
The "Bubble Zone" ordinance applies outside local abortion clinics to prohibit approaching within eight feet of a person to present a leaflet, sign or oral message to that person. The Thomas More Society challenged the constitutionality of this ordinance, in agreement with the ACLU, in 2009.
Avignone's case is the third "Bubble Zone" case, all of which have been dismissed. On August 3, the City of Chicago dismissed its case against Joe Holland, a Northwestern University graduate student arrested while praying the rosary outside the same Planned Parenthood clinic.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVdYcJTeaNQ
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About the Thomas More Society
Founded in 1997, the Thomas More Society is a national public interest law firm that exists to restore respect for life in law. Based in Chicago, the Thomas More Society defends the sanctity of human life, the family and religious liberty in courtrooms across the country. The Society is a nonprofit organization wholly supported by private donations. For more information or to support the work of Thomas More Society, please visit www.thomasmoresociety.org.
