Sen. Ted Cruz called the arrest of eight people in North Carolina who were protesting outside an abortion clinic “unconstitutional.”
“@BenhamBrothers exercising core First Amendment rights. PEACEFULLY. In a way fully consistent w/ public safety. Because elected Dems are pro-abortion, they are abusing their power — in a one-sided way — to silence pregnancy counselors,” Cruz tweeted.
1/x Charlotte newspaper editorial demonstrates dishonesty of today’s media. They say it’s just neutral “public health” concerns that allow Dems to arrest @BenhamBrothers for peacefully speaking for life. The newspaper says that’s “not essential”… https://t.co/1Tsx8nMX60
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 7, 2020
Police told WBVT 50 that protesters gathered outside a Preferred Women’s Health Center near Charlotte on Saturday.
North Carolina’s stay-at-home order bans gatherings of more than 10 people.
“After an initial request for compliance, 12 people who were in violation refused to leave” and were cited under state law for violation of emergency prohibitions and restrictions, police said.
After police issued the citation, eight people still refused to leave and were arrested.
The incident comes days after a similar incident outside the clinic in which four men were arrested. Among them was Justin Reeder, the founder of Love Life USA, a national anti-abortion group.
Love Life USA last week filed a lawsuit against the Greensboro mayor and a lieutenant with the Greensboro Police Department, local media reported.
