The Carbondale City Council will address amending the city’s ordinance on disorderly conduct at the January 10 meeting.
The amendment reads someone cannot be within eight feet of another person in a a fifty-foot radius from the entrance door of all hospitals, medical clinics, and healthcare facilities to distribute leaflets, display a sign, engage in oral protest, education, or counseling without consent from them.
People entering and leaving those facilities will be protected from attempts or threats of force, physical obstruction, injury, and intimidation.
The change is prompted by daily protest at Carbondale's two reproductive healthcare providers and calls to police for trespassing and disorderly conduct at the locations.
In a written statement, Brian Westbrook, the executive director of Coalition Life who will attend tonight's meeting to urge the City Council to vote against the amendment, says "this is an attempt to deny access to residents to cater to a specific agenda and the people who have gathered in public to pray and to show their support for mothers and their children have done nothing wrong."
The Carbondale City Council meeting will follow the Liquor Control Commission meeting, which starts at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
