The Carbondale City Council Tuesday approved amending an ordinance related to disorderly conduct.
The ordinance now reads someone cannot be within eight feet of another person in a 100-foot radius from the entrance door of all hospitals, medical clinics, and healthcare facilities to distribute leaflets, display a sign, orally protest, or counsel without consent.
The change was prompted by daily protests at Carbondale's two reproductive healthcare providers and calls to police for trespassing and disorderly conduct at those locations.
Leigh Stevens is a staff attorney for the pro-life group, Coalition Life. She told the City Council the ordinance appears to be biased.
"My guess is that the intention of this body and instructions to law enforcement is to only apply this ordinance to those who hold the pro-life view."
City Councilwoman Ginger Rye-Sanders said she and her colleagues have to protect the rights of those seeking medical care and the rights of those who want to protest.
"Our society is very violent now. People are just doing strange things. You have to set barriers."
Coalition Life representatives told the Council they plan to take the City of Carbondale to court over the matter.
