City ordinance revised after anti-abortion protest

JACKSONVILLE, NC (WNCT) - The city of Jacksonville is making changes to its protesting ordinance after a lawsuit over an anti-abortion demonstration.

The federal lawsuit challenged the city’s Parade and Public Assembly Ordinance. The changes focus on three issues: the size of a protest group, the access of protesters to sidewalks and other public ways, and the city standards to issue a permit to protest.

City Attorney John T. Carter Jr. says the city was able to resolve concerns listed in the lawsuit without creating special exceptions for any particular viewpoint.

The lawsuit came after an anti-abortion group started a 40-day protest outside of the Crist Clinic for Women on Memorial Drive. The city says the lawsuit will be formally dismissed 30 days after Jacksonville enacts its newly-revised ordinance.

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JACKSONVILLE, N.C- Abortion is a hot-button topic almost any time the subject is raised in discussion. Tonight in Jacksonville, an organization began a 40 day peaceful protest at a local clinic.

More than two dozen protesters from anti-abortion group 40 Days for Life gathered at the Crist Clinic for Women for the first night of their 40-day peaceful vigil of prayer and fasting to end abortion.

Organizer, Elizabeth Delong says she's happy with the turn out.

"God isn't big about numbers he kind of likes little numbers. But it's the sincerity of the heart and integrity and the heart for what god wants. That's what I need."

Initially, the group was not allowed on the clinic's property. But since the street has no sidewalk, the Jacksonville Police granted the protesters a 12 foot eavesment from the road, which placed them right on the clinic's lawn.

 Delong expects more than 500 people to attend the prayer campaign during its 40 day span.

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JACKSONVILLE, N.C.- Abortion. It's a word that can polarize people in an instant. It also is the cause of a planned 40-day long protest that will begin tonight here in the east. 

The area around the Crist Clinic for Women will be full of anti-abortion protesters for the next 40 days. But organizer, Elizabeth Delong says it won't be full of chanting and pickett signs.

"This prayer campaign is prayer, it's more prayer. Its prayer and fasting and it's more prayer."

The clinic's owner,  Dr. Takey Crist says he understands the group's stance, but notes that unwanted pregnancy is not the only reason for abortion.

"None of these individuals that are going to be out there protesting have said anything about rape, incest or fetal deformity that is so terrible it does not sustain life."

The 40 Days for Life prayer campaign is supposed to be a peaceful vigil. But with protesters not being allowed onto clinic property and no sidewalks near the building for them to gather on, safety is a concern.

Jacksonville Police Chief, Mike Yaniero says that the department's traffic division will patrol the area on a regular basis to make sure there aren't any problems. 

Delong says she expects more than 500 people to attend the protest over its 40 day course. The protest will officially begin at midnight, but the 40 Days for Life group will meet at the Crist Clinic for Women tonight at 6.