Responding to the decision from the U.S. Supreme Court overturning the 2007 Massachusetts law that imposed a 35-foot buffer zone around abortion clinics to protect women entering and leaving the facilities, and the doctors and staff who work there, Congresswoman Lois Frankel released the following statement:  

“From bomb threats to arson, the history of violence carried out against clinics by anti-choice advocates is well-documented - threatening the lives of both providers and the women seeking medical care.  Now states, and the federal government, need to re-double their efforts to keep women and providers safe," said Frankel.

In a unanimous ruling Thursday, the justices found that a buffer zone around an abortion clinic infringes on the First Amendment rights of protesters declaring that a state has to more narrowly target clinic obstructions.

The 2007 law that was struck down was created by Massachusetts officials in response to the harassment and violence at abortion clinics in the state, including shootings at two facilities in 1994.

According to the National Abortion Federation, the first reported arson attack on a clinic took place in 1976, followed by the first bombings two years later. Since 1998, eight health care providers have been murdered.  Closer to home, on July 4, 2005, during Frankel’s term as Mayor of West Palm Beach, a fire ravaged the Presidential Women’s Center in West Palm Beach. 

Congresswoman Frankel had actively advocated for protection of a woman’s access to a safe and legal abortion.  To that end, Frankel is lead co-sponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2013 aimed at preventing states from passing Targeted Regulations of Abortion Providers (TRAP) laws limiting access to abortion clinics.  The Supreme Court ruling today has added to the obstacles faced by women.

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