Back to The Barricades

Operation Rescue is handed a victory by a divided Supreme Court

NO GROUP HAS VEXED THE PRO-CHOICE MOVEMENT as much as Operation Rescue, which has staged passionate demonstrations in front of abortion clinics and tried to block those entering. Faced with local officials who deemed such protests legal, abortion-rights advocates turned to the federal courts. There a number of judges were willing to restrain Operation Rescue through an 1871 federal civil rights law originally designed for use against the Ku Klux Klan. Women seeking abortions, the judges ruled, deserved the same protected status as blacks.

By a 6-to-3 vote, the Supreme Court last week rejected that argument. The decision will result in...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!