Minneapolis softens abortion buffer zone laws in pro-life victory

A pro-life organization in Minnesota has declared victory after the Minneapolis City Council amended an ordinance barring pro-life speech on public sidewalks outside of abortion clinics.

Previously, Minneapolis had a buffer zone around its lone abortion clinic, Planned Parenthood on Lagoon Ave. However, last month the City Council changed its ordinance in response to a lawsuit and will now exclude constitutionally protected activities. It also agreed to pay the pro-life organization’s lawsuit legal fees.

The City Council enacted its initial ordinance in 2022, but Pro-Life Action Ministries sued in April 2023, contending the law violated its freedom of speech and religion. The group also filed the lawsuit to prevent the city of St. Paul, which also has a Planned Parenthood clinic, from adopting a similar ordinance. The city has not adopted one to date.

The ministry said it continued to reach women outside the buffer zone, even with the ordinance impeding its activities, including a woman who will give birth in February. 

However, the ordinance made their job more dangerous, as sidewalk counselors instead had to stand in the street. 

”Having our rights restored increases the possibility to help women and save more babies from abortion,” CEO Brian Gibson said in a press release. “We are elated that the City of Minneapolis has recognized its fault in suppressing our First Amendment rights. This is a win for the unborn babies.  Other cities need to take note to never simply do Planned Parenthood’s bidding and interfere with citizens’ Constitutional rights.” 

The Thomas More Society represented the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. The conservative Catholic legal organization also praised the result. 

“We are incredibly pleased with this victory against the City of Minneapolis and its unconstitutional no-speech zone law,” Peter Breen, Thomas More executive vice president and head of litigation, said in the release. “Minneapolis thought it could get away with targeting pro-life speech by creating an unconstitutional, content-based no-speech zone—crafted exclusively for the purpose of hamstringing pro-life sidewalk counseling efforts outside of the city’s abortion facilities. Today, that city ordinance is no more, and our dear friends and clients at Pro-Life Action Ministries can go about their life-saving efforts without fear or threat of penalties for sharing the pro-life message.” 

Planned Parenthood North Central States had little reaction to the news, telling the Associated Press, “Patients continue to be protected from people blocking or obstructing the driveway or sidewalk.” 

Minnesota law allows for abortion through all nine months of a pregnancy. Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat who ran unsuccessfully for vice president under Kamala Harris, does not support any abortion restrictions.