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Mississippi City Tries to Limit Noise Near Abortion Clinic

Associated Press

   JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI - Noisy conflict is common outside Mississippi's
   only abortion clinic, with protesters sometimes using bullhorns to
   amplify their voices and the clinic itself blaring music to keep
   patients from hearing the protesters.

   Owners of nearby businesses say the commotion is a headache for their
   customers who want to enjoy a meal or buy some clothes.

   In response, the Jackson City Council voted 3-1 Tuesday to enact a
   local law limiting amplified sound outside health care facilities and
   creating buffer zones to move protesters further from the entrances.
   The law is set to take effect in about a month, and opponents say it
   unconstitutionally limits their right to free speech. A court challenge
   is likely.

   The council vote came days before a federal appeals court was set to
   hear arguments over a 2018 Mississippi law that would ban most
   abortions after 15 weeks.

   Like many places in the Deep South, Mississippi is a conservative state
   with a Republican-led Legislature that has been enacting laws to
   restrict access to abortion. Southern cities where abortion clinics are
   located tend to be more socially and politically liberal. That's the
   case in Jackson, where most City Council members are Democrats.

   But, during the Jackson debate, council members said limiting noise and
   creating a buffer zone is an attempt to help patients and local
   businesses rather than to help the clinic.

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