Washington D.C., Apr 14, 2020 / 14:00 pm
Lawyers have filed suit against the city of Greensboro, North Carolina, for enforcing public health restrictions in an allegedly discriminatory manner following the arrest of several pro-life sidewalk counselors.
A lawsuit filed on April 14 by the group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) on behalf of pro-life sidewalk counselors alleges that the city of Greensboro selectively enforced county public safety rules against the counselors.
The rules on social distancing and public gatherings were enacted to halt the spread of the coronavirus. Four counselors with the group Love Live were arrested on March 28 by Greensboro police as they stood on public sidewalks outside the local abortion clinic A Woman's Choice. They gathered in groups of fewer than 10 people and people were spaced six feet apart, in an effort to comply with public health regulations.
The group's president Justin Reeder and lawyer Jason Oesterreich were arrested again on the morning of March 30, along with a pastor who had joined them. Seven more arrests were made later that morning when other members of Love Life attempted to counsel at the location.