FROM THE ARCHIVE
Abortion groups slam web site ruling
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MARCH 29, 2001 Responding to an appeals court decision protecting an anti-abortion web site as free speech, abortion-rights supporters throughout the country on Wednesday criticized the ruling as a major setback to the women's movement and called on the Bush administration to seek its reversal. Known as the "Nuremberg Files," the site is the product of American Coalition of Life Activists, an anti-abortion group. It was born out of the group's 1995 "Deadly Dozen" wanted posters, which offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the "arrest, conviction and revocation of license to practice medicine" of doctors who provide abortion services. ACLA's effort appeared to have succeeded. Over the years, the group has regularly provided names, addresses, and other information on doctors throughout the country, accusing them of crimes against humanity. Their work eventually made it online, published by anti-abortion activist Neal Horsley. Abortion clinics and doctors who were targeted subsequently filed a number of lawsuits against the group, charging that the site violated federal law guaranteeing access to clinics. But more importantly, the doctors also said their lives were being threatened by the site and said it was responsible for the deaths of abortion providers. As doctors who appeared on the site were killed by militant anti-abortionists, their names were grayed or crossed out. A federal jury in Oregon agreed in 1999 and awarded the abortion providers a $107 million settlement. The jury found that the site constituted direct threats, which are not protected by the free speech provision of the First Amendment. Yesterday, a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned that ruling. Although they acknowledged the site makes it easier for militant activists to carry out their "gruesome mission," they said it was protected as free speech. "By singling out the plaintiffs from among the thousands across the country who are involved in delivering abortion services, ACLA called them to the unfriendly attention of violent anti-abortion activists," wrote the court. "And by publishing the doctors' addresses, ACLA made it easier for any would-be terrorists to carry out their gruesome mission." "From the doctors' point of view, such speech may be just as frightening as a direct threat, but it remains protected," continued the court. In response, women's rights and abortion rights groups from the Feminist Majority Foundation to the National Abortion Federation to Planned Parenthood criticized the decision. The National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League is calling on President George W. Bush and Attorney General John Ashcroft to seek its reversal. "Today's decision by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse the ruling against anti-choice extremists in the notorious Nuremberg files website case represents a major setback for a woman's right to choose," said Kate Michelman, president of NARAL. "All Americans should be deeply concerned that the court's ruling will encourage further violence by anti-choice extremists operating under the misconception that their actions are protected by free speech considerations," she added. The site has been maintained under the domain www.christiangallery.com. Although much of its content is currently unavailable, some pages are still accessible. Get the Decision:
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF THE COLUMBIA/WILLAMETTE, INC. v. AM. COALITION OF LIFE ACTIVISTS No 99-35320, 99-35325, 99-35327, 99-35331, 99-35333, 99-35405 (9th Cir. March 28, 2001) Relevant Links:
Disclaimer: The following sites contains pictures and information which may be offensive to readers.
The Nuremberg Files - http://www.christiangallery.com/atrocity
The Christian Gallery - http://www.christiangallery.com
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