Abortion Protesters Claim Arrests Violate Their Religious Freedom

In Richmond, Virginia last week, two abortion protesters filed suit in federal district court alleging that an off-duty city police officer hired by Richmond's Medical Center for Women infringed their free exercise and free speech rights. Richmond's Style yesterday reported on the lawsuit. The protesters' claims are based on their being cited three times since 2004 for violating Virginia's disorderly conduct law and Richmond's noise ordinance. In addition to claiming that the city ordinance is unconstitutionally vague because it sets no standard for when noise is too loud, the complaint (full text) also alleges that enforcement of the laws prevents the demonstrators from carrying out a tenet of their religious faith in violation of their free exercise rights. The complaint alleges that plaintiffs as Christians "sincerely believe they are discharging a religious duty by publicly proclaiming and orally communicating their beliefs, particularly with respect to their beliefs on the topic of abortion."