Abortion Clash in Buffalo Brings 79 More Arrests

BUFFALO, N.Y. —  Anti-abortion demonstrators slipped through police barricades Saturday to briefly block a gate at a women’s clinic during their fifth day of protests.

Police arrested 76 abortion opponents, as well as three abortion-rights protesters, two in scuffles with officers. The mounting total of arrests put a greater strain on the capacity of the local armory where protesters are being jailed.

The five-hour protest in rainy weather broke up at midday.

Members of the anti-abortion group Operation Rescue made it through barricades, some crawling on their hands and knees, before the Buffalo GYN Womenservices clinic opened.

They blocked the gate leading to a back entrance, praying and singing hymns. They prayed louder in an effort to drown out a federal marshal who read a court injunction prohibiting them from blockading clinics.

Police loaded the abortion opponents onto a bus after they refused to move. Most were charged with obstruction, police said.

In all, about 350 arrests of abortion opponents have been made since demonstrations began Tuesday at four clinics.