Abortion Activists Confident in California´s Laws

Abortion activists say California´s stringent pro-choice laws should mitigate the impact of a new U-S Supreme Court ruling that could reinvigorate anti-abortion forces.

The Supreme Court ruled today that federal racketeering and extortion laws can´t be used to punish aggressive anti-abortion protesters who block clinic doors. But pro-choice groups say they don´t need the federal statute because the state is already ahead of most in protecting abortion rights.

Last year, the Legislature gave local authorities the ability to file criminal charges against demonstrators who try to keep women from entering abortion clinics.

Anti-abortion groups, meanwhile, predict their memberships will increase now that clinic protesters don´t have to worry about federal conspiracy charges.