This Just In - Praying Rosary in Front of Planned Parenthood OK, For Now

The other day I put up a story about a young man who was arrested for praying the Rosary in front of a Chi-Town Planned Parenthood. (Caution: Praying Rosary Now Seen As Disorderly Conduct) Well, there is some good news, the charges have been dropped. The Thomas More Society who was handling his case posted the following report on their website:

Amid National Media Blitz, Chicago Drops Charges Against First “Bubble Zone” Arrestee Joe Holland
—Posted by Thomas More Society (August 3, 2010 at 4:36 pm)

Chicago—This afternoon, in a wake of national interest in the case, the Thomas More Society secured a dismissal of all charges against the first arrestee under the city’s “bubble zone” ordinance, which prevents certain types of picketing activity outside local abortion clinics. Joseph Holland, a Northwestern University graduate student, was arrested outside Planned Parenthood’s Near North Side facility on July 3 after the facility’s staff called the police and claimed he violated the ordinance by praying on the public sidewalk.

“We are pleased that the City of Chicago has dismissed these false and baseless charges against Joe Holland,” said Peter Breen, Thomas More Society executive director and legal counsel. “The First Amendment protects prayer on a public sidewalk in Chicago the same as in any other city in the country. We hope that the city will cease the suppression of pro-life speech under the ‘bubble zone’ ordinance and dismiss the lone remaining case, brought against David Avignone, who was arrested a few days after Joe.”

The “bubble zone” ordinance prohibits approaching within eight feet of a 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.” Witnesses and a video of the incident showed Holland standing stationary and praying, but not leafleting, picketing or sidewalk counseling.

Thomas More Society attorneys are also representing David Avignone, the second arrestee under the “bubble zone” ordinance, who was arrested the same week as Holland. Avignone’s first court appearance is August 30.

In a post on this breaking news, Jill Stanek shares that she talked with TMS attorney (& friend!) Peter Breen who told her that "the city’s corporate counsel asked the judge for a moment to confer with 3 Planned Parenthood reps present and returned to say the City was dropping all charges. So neither the City nor Peter ever saw PP’s surveillance video that TMS subpoenaed." (This video is at my previous post as well as Jill Stanek's blog.)

The story got national attention when Fox & Friends had a report today where they interviewed Thomas More Society Executive Director Peter Breen and Joe Holland. (here) & Fox put the story on their website Monday. (here)

& while this is good news, the battle isn't over. You can be sure that PP will do its best to continue harrassing those who exercise their 1st Amendment rights. & they will definitely try to stop any prayer, esp the Rosary since they know, but won't admit, how powerful a weapon it is in the spiritual warfare we are fighting to defeat the "culture of death" & build a Culture of Life.

See also:
New Website Raises Support for Grad Student Arrested Outside Chicago Planned Parenthood
Thomas More Society Enters “Not Guilty” Plea for First Arrestee Under Chicago’s Abortion Clinic “Bubble Zone” Ordinance