LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville Metro Council members passed an ordinance that would create a safety buffer zone at the only abortion clinic in the state.
What You Need To Know
- Louisville Metro Council passed an ordinance Thursday night that would create a buffer zone around healthcare facilities
- The ordinance creates a 10-foot buffer zone around EMW Women's Surgical Center, the only abortion clinic left in the state
- Proponents say the buffer zone would prevent protesters from getting into patients' personal space when walking up to the clinic
- Those against say the ordinance would limit free speech
The full Louisville Metro Council passed the ordinance at the meeting Thursday night. It creates a 10-foot safety buffer zone around healthcare facilities. While it would include all healthcare facilities, much of the previous discussions around the ordinance focus on the EMW Women's Surgical Center.
That center is the only remaining abortion clinic in Louisville. It is also the only one left in the state. Councilwoman Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-District 8, is one of the sponsors of the ordinance. She said it can be dangerous outside the clinic as patients make a three-minute walk from the parking garage.
A video included in the meeting agenda for Thursday's council meeting shows protesters getting close to patients at the EMW Women's Medical Center as those patients walk up to the door of the center.
Savannah Trebuna is a community organizer with the Louisville Safety Zone campaign. She has also volunteered at the center. While volunteering, she would meet patients at their cars to escort them into the clinic.
“Protesters over the years have become more emboldened to violate personal space for patients," said Trebuna. "It has caused a huge cluster on public sidewalks, making this area very volatile to not only patients, protesters, but also pedestrians coming onto Market Street.”
Under the ordinance, no one could create an obstruction within a 10-foot buffer zone outside the clinic.
Councilman Robin Engel, R-District 22, who disputed the area was dangerous, opposed the ordinance. He argues it is a violation of the First Amendment.
"If you ask a sidewalk counselor that, it is the last words of a sidewalk counselor that often times, about what they can do to help the life of that unborn child if that mother gave birth, and that is free ultrasounds, free housing and the care of that child and that mother," said Engel. "That is what that last word says to those individuals walking in, and a buffer zone would disrupt that dramatically."
This is not a new topic for the Louisville Metro Council. The council narrowly rejected a similar proposal last August.
"It’s a buffer zone ordinance that we’ve seen before. Same thing as last year. Very divisive issue. It goes right to the heart of the first amendment rights to the freedom of speech for sidewalk counseling," said Engel.