By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Local anti-abortion and abortion rights activists have weighed in on Wednesday's Supreme Court decision that affects all protestors. The ruling says anti-abortion protestors can not be prosecuted under federal racketeering or extortion laws.
The director of Buffalo WomenServices says she is disappointed with the decision. Melinda DuBois says she fears anti-abortion activists will now think they have "free reign" to protest at any clinic.
"The important thing to remember is that we have the FACE law, which is the Freedom of Acccess to Clinic Entrances Act," DuBois said. "It actually came into law after RICO."
Local anti-abortion leader Rev. Robert Behn of Last Call Ministers and Operation Save America-Buffalo says the Supreme Court ruling it is a "great victory." But Behn says it won't change future planned protests outside area clinics.
"The only thing about the RICO law is that it made the punishment and the fines that much more," Behn said. "So, in actuality, it's not changing anything. It's just a law that was being misused."
Behn says they also must obey the federal injunction that limits protesting outside local clinics.