Jackson City Council passes ordinance to establish ‘buffer zone’ around abortion clinic

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - The Jackson City Council passed an ordinance Tuesday to establish buffer zones or safe zones near the state’s only abortion clinic.

The vote that passed this ordinance was 3-1.

Students of Life for America released a statement following the ordinance saying the city council is creating an unconstitutional obstacle to free speech around abortion vendors.

In response to a Jackson, MS city council vote in favor of an ordinance that puts an exclusion zone around the last abortion facility in Mississippi, Students for Life of America called the move “an unconstitutional affront to people’s free speech rights.” Such “buffer zones” would require that people stay 15 feet away from the state’s last abortion facility, preventing peaceful prayer and conversation. “The free speech rights of those trying to sell abortions remain in effect,” noted SFLA President Kristan Hawkins. “Crushing the free speech rights of those who care about both mother and preborn child is clearly unconstitutional, and frankly unfair, as abortion supporters are allowed to push their deadly agenda.”

This 15-foot buffer zone will surround all health care facilities in Jackson.