City to Draft Law to Restrict Protesters at Clinics : Ventura: Plan would require abortion foes and other demonstrators to back off from people entering facilities.

After an emotional 90-minute hearing, the Ventura City Council has asked city staff members to draft a law that would keep antiabortion demonstrators away from people entering medical clinics that perform abortions.

The proposed ordinance--the first of its kind in Ventura County--would require all protesters to stay several arm lengths away from people entering clinics, religious institutions, schools and businesses.

On Monday, after Councilman Todd Collart introduced the idea, the council heard testimony from residents on the proposal. Abortion foes contended it would violate their rights to protest, while abortion rights advocates said it would protect people from being harassed.

The council voted 5 to 1 to direct the city attorney to prepare a draft ordinance for consideration after the first of the year. Councilman Jack Tingstrom cast the dissenting vote against drafting such a law, saying “it’s a violation of First Amendment rights.”

But the other council members said they favored the idea because it would guarantee access to abortion clinics.

“I don’t think this is an abortion issue,” Mayor Gregory L. Carson said. “We’re discussing people’s rights.”

About 45 residents attended the meeting, and more than half spoke passionately on both sides of the issue.

Opponents of abortion said the ordinance is not necessary because they do not block access to abortion clinics.

“I’m not a pushy, aggressive type,” said Myrna Fowler, a 42-year-old Simi Valley homemaker who has protested at the Family Planning Associates building for four years. “I’ve never kept people from going in through the door.”

Bill Hayes, a retired 65-year-old Oxnard engineer, blasted the proposed law as a “barbarian gag rule created by Planned Parenthood.” Hayes organized protests at a Planned Parenthood in Oxnard before the clinic relocated to Ventura.

But abortion rights advocates argued that demonstrations are becoming increasingly violent throughout the nation, noting that 17 people were arrested in 1989 when 75 demonstrators blocked access to the Family Planning Associates building for five hours.

In September, 1991, the lobby window of Planned Parenthood was shattered by an explosive. And earlier last month, a small arson-caused fire damaged the roof of the Family Planning Associates building.

“Violence is on the rise in clinics, schools and churches,” said Jaime Cox-Nowland, president of the Ventura-Oxnard chapter of the National Organization for Women. “This would protect citizens.”

The proposed ordinance would require protesters to back off to about eight feet if a person going into the clinic specifically asks that protesters stay away, Cox-Nowland said.

April Fernandez, director of the Planned Parenthood clinic in Ventura, said she has seen few problems with demonstrators at her clinic, but favors passing the law because it would reassure people who want to come to the clinic.

“It does not infringe on the free speech of demonstrators,” she said.

Collart, who will leave office next week because he lost his reelection bid, said he favors passing the law before violence erupts at Ventura clinics.

“The best time to take action is before the situation arises,” Collart said in an interview. “All this does is create some space around people. We know that when people get in our space, they get nervous and excited.”