Law Against Picketing Residences OKd
The City Council on Monday approved an ordinance making it illegal to picket private residences, a response to picketing by an anti-abortion group at the home of the manager of a family planning clinic.
“It was an issue of property rights,” Mayor Leslie Anne Pontious said.
But Matthew Isaacs, chairman of the Pro Life Political Action Committee of Orange County, vowed to challenge the new law in court, calling it “a clear violation of First Amendment rights” protecting free speech.
The ordinance was adopted after Naomi Hardin, manager of Doctors’ Family Planning Clinic, complained to the council that members of an anti-abortion group had been picketing her Tustin home off and on since February.
City officials said the law was necessary to protect the privacy of Tustin residents.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
