BURLINGTON, Vt. -
After hearing an emotional debate, the City of Burlington Ordinance Committee voted to move forward with a buffer zone around reproductive health care facilities.
That means the issue now goes to the full city commission.
The ordinance was drafted after patients and staff at Planned Parenthood in Burlington complained they were harassed by pro-life protestors outside the building.
Before the committee Wednesday, Planned Parenthood's Director of Communications Jill Krowinski fought for the city to create the 35-foot no protest zone.
"Just in the past three-weeks, over 25 patients have been approached, intimidated, or harassed by protesters. This measure will ensure we don't have a serious incident happen," says Krowinski.
But protesters say they are the victims.
"We have been spit on, cursed at," says Amy Cochran, pro-life protestor.
Cochran says they are just there to hand out information to patients. She says the proposed law is not needed and possibly illegal.
"It's appearing to cross our constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and the right to pray on public property," says Cochran.
Planned Parenthood supporters say they made suggestions to make sure the law protects freedom of speech and patients' safety. They also picked up the support of the ACLU, which now backs the buffer zone.
Volunteer Becky Galvin says she helps walk patients inside and says the extra protection can't come soon enough.
"They deliberated, they waited long enough, and they want to proceed without obstacles," says Galvin.
