PRO-CHOICE COURT SUPPORT NEEDED!

Pro-Choice history was made in Oakland, California on January 15, 2009. Walter Hoye, the self-appointed challenger of Oakland’s Bubble Ordinance was convicted for his violation of the ordinance in a jury trial before Alameda County Superior Court Judge Stuart Hing.* The bubble ordinance creates a barrier of protection for women entering any reproductive health care facility in Oakland. It prohibits anti-Choice protestors from approaching within 8 feet of a person entering or leaving a clinic, within a 100 foot parameter of the entrance to the clinic. It protects clients, clinic personnel and escorts.

From the moment the bubble was passed by Oakland City Council, Walter Hoye deliberately and flagrantly violated the ordinance. Every Tuesday, Hoye came from his Union City home to protest in front of a clinic in Oakland. He repeatedly approached clients, staff members and escorts entering the clinic. Hoye’s Anti-Choice allies hid inside a box in the back of a van and secretly videoed these events, in order to provide a defense for Hoye’s behavior. Ironically, the defense video proved to the jury that Hoye had violated the ordinance and sealed his fate with them. They deliberated for 4 days before finding him guilty.

On February 19, 2009, Walter Hoye will be sentenced by Judge Hing. We want to fill the court room with supporters of Choice to demonstrate to the Court our desire to see Hoye punished to the maximum allowed by the law, for his disdain for this hard-won protection of women in Oakland. A broad-based coalition of East Bay organizations and individuals, led by clinic directors and clinic escorts, have worked for the protective bubble for over 10 years. Nancy Nadel, from the beginning until its passage, advocated for the protection and wrote the ordinance that was eventually passed unanimously by Oakland City Council. The ordinance would be meaningless if the Oakland Police, the City Attorney’s Office and the Alameda District Attorney’s office had not enforced it.

This is a rare and welcome victory for women and our entire community. Please come and witness this important victory on February 19th. Tell your friends. Join us!