Written by Jacqueline Ahearn

On June 27, 2014, abortion clinic protestors stepped victoriously over the brightly painted yellow lines surrounding clinics, shaking signs and pamphlets and approaching all who ventured near. This was the first time since 2000 that protestors could engage patients with impunity, held back only the day before by a buffer zone law which had protected people entering the clinic. Clinics reported higher rates of no-shows that day and in the weeks that followed, and for over a month, the Supreme Court decision of McCullen v. Coakley left clinics without recourse to prevent harassment of their patients.