Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 27, 1994 TAG: 9405270123
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: The Washington Post Note: below
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short
Two anti-abortion groups immediately filed suit to overturn the law, arguing that it interfered with their constitutional rights of free speech and religious freedom.
Clinton signed the law at a White House ceremony attended by the children of David Gunn, the Florida physician murdered by an anti-abortion protestor last year.
``We simply cannot - we must not - continue to allow the attacks, the incidents of arson, the campaigns of intimidation upon law-abiding citizens that [have] given rise to this law,'' Clinton said.
Abortion rights supporters say there have been 3,000 incidents of violence, vandalism and harassment at abortion clinics since 1977.
Antiabortion activists argue that the law punishes them for legitimate civil disobedience. The National Right to Life Committee accused the president of allowing abortion rights supporters to ``crush peaceful protesters' free speech.''
by CNB