BURLINGTON, Vt. -
A group of pro-life protestors has sued the City of Burlington.
It's all over a law that went into effect last month and was designed to keep protestors away from reproductive health centers, including Planned Parenthood.
The suit was filed in a federal court in Burlington. That's because protestors say their constitutional rights are being violated.
Having to stand across the street from Planned Parenthood in Burlington is too far for Agnes Clift.
"It is a free speech right," says Clift.
That's why Clift and five other pro-life women have filed a lawsuit against the city. They claim they're being hurt by a city law that forces them to be 35-feet away from reproductive health centers, including Planned Parenthood.
"It's a noisy street. It's a very wide street and we can not communicate effectively on this side of the street and we have a message we feel very passionate about communicating," says Clift.
Clift says police have targeted them and ignored other protestors who broke the ordinance elsewhere in the city.
"I do think that it's important that enforcement is even handed," says Joan Shannon, D-City Council president.
Shannon says Burlington's rule was based on what other cities have done. She says the buffer has been successfully defended before.
"It certainly is my hope our ordinance will stand up in court," says Shannon.
Clift says she and the other protestors are also confident about their chances in court. She says they want the buffer zone struck down so their pro-life message can be more easily heard.
"We need to be across the street," says Clift.
Planned Parenthood had pushed for the buffer zone to protect their patients from what it said was harassment. Staff say since the zone started being enforced it has been effective though they have had to call police at least four times.
