Pro-Life Advocates Win in Federal Court, Allowed to Protest Planned Parenthood Next to School

Patrick Taylor | June 14, 2022
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Pro-life activists in Washington, D.C. won a surprise victory in federal court last Thursday, bringing a conclusion to a nearly seven-year fight against a lawsuit brought by a school located next door to a newly minted Planned Parenthood facility.

The D.C. Court of Appeals unanimously found that the Two Rivers Public Charter School lacked constitutional standing to accuse pro-life advocates Ruby Nicdao, Larry Cirignano, and Jonathan Darnel of “private nuisance and conspiracy to create a private nuisance” on behalf of students and parents who supposedly claimed that the protests caused “emotional distress.”

“This is a tremendous victory, not only for Ruby Nicdao, but for all who face persecution for sharing their viewpoint and speaking truth to an unsympathetic audience,” lead counsel Stephen Crampton said. “However, even though this was a baseless lawsuit, it still took seven years to win. During those seven years Ruby and other innocent pro-life advocates had to carry on with a dark cloud of suspicion following them everywhere they went. It should not have taken so long to exonerate Ruby and her cohorts.”

Related: Harris Avoids Mentioning God At 'Faith Leaders' Abortion Meeting

Crampton was among those enlisted by the Thomas More Society, a conservative organization aimed at defending their clients’ First Amendment rights. Their efforts finally bore fruit on Thursday, putting an end to the public school’s crusade against pro-lifers.

“Our top priority is to provide a high-quality, joyful educational environment for our children, and we cannot do this if they do not feel safe,” Jessica Wodatch, Two Rivers Public Charter School’s executive director, said after filing the suit in December 2015.

Ironically, the school seems to have had a bigger problem with activists peacefully protesting outside of a Planned Parenthood than with babies being aborted immediately next door.

“Rather than protect students from Planned Parenthood’s propaganda and access to abortion, Two Rivers attacked Ruby and others who were only trying to share truth and truly protect these innocent students,” Crampton added on Friday. “Parents should take note of whose interests these public schools are really seeking to serve.”

 

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