An Oakland law intended to make sure women entering clinics were not harassed by anti-choice protesters is being upheld in the courts, but is also being used to apply to clinic escorts, too. According to the ruling, neither one is allowed to talk to or make contact with a woman without express permission from the patient.

In response, both sides of the abortion divide seem ok with that decision.

The Mercury News reports:

Both sides called the decision a victory.

Millen called the decision a landmark in First Amendment rights. “No speaker, no matter how worthy their cause may be, is entitled to special privileges from the city,” he said.

Oakland City Attorney Barbara Parker said the key issue in the case “is giving women the support and the access they need to reproductive health care services,” especially in the face of protesters who have been known to attack, threaten or rush up to women approaching clinics.

The Oakland law and a similar one in Colorado have now both been upheld by federal appeals courts.

Of course, I can’t help but wonder how extensive the “requests to speak” are going to become, and if the “sidewalk counselor” will simply walk away after the woman says no the first time or not.