How to Legally Protest at an Abortion Clinic

If you have strong views against abortion, you have the constitution-given right to protest at an abortion clinic to make your opinions known. This doesn't mean you have the right to incite violence or to cause harm to abortion-clinic employees, but you can hold a peaceful demonstration. Following are some of the legal guidelines you must follow to protest at an abortion clinic.

Promise to Be Peaceful

One of the best ways to legally protest at an abortion clinic is to sign a contract that promises you'll be peaceful for the duration of the demonstration. The Catholic diocese provides these contracts for free, and you can pass them out to anyone who wants to protest with you. If the police or the abortion clinic employees question your presence, you can provide them with a copy of the signed contracts to express your desire to remain peaceful. This can allay many concerns.

Clear the Sidewalks

Although you can protest around an abortion clinic legally, you cannot block access to the building from the sidewalk or street. Make sure that your group is sufficiently organized to allow patients, nurses, doctors and other personnel to pass without incident. If you do restrict access either by force or by "mob", you could be arrested and your demonstration will no longer qualify as peaceful.

Stay Off the Property

You have the right to legally protest at an abortion clinic as long as you remain on public property, but once you step foot onto the clinic's property, there is grounds for arrest. Just as you have the right to peaceably demonstrate, the clinic has the right to carry on with normal business, and to permit or deny access to their property as they see fit. This includes circumstances where you accidentally move from public to private ground, or even if you are pushed.

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