Abortion Clinic Protesters Challenge Arrest

DAYTON, Ohio (CN) - Police wrongfully arrested two people who were "lawfully praying, protesting and counseling" outside an abortion clinic in Kettering Ohio, the arrested duo claim in Federal Court. Vivian Skovgard and Percy Gros Jr. say they were staging a peaceful protest when Kettering police violated their constitutional rights by arresting them for criminal trespass.

They say they were on a public sidewalk outside the Women's Med+ Center, where they've been "engaging in peaceful pro-life speech" since the 1980s.

Their lawsuit challenges city policies and practices, which purportedly "include the inadequate training of Kettering police officers in the face of well-known risk on matters relating to free speech and assembly at and around the Center."

Skovgard and Gros demand "at least nominal damages" for the constitutional claims and compensatory damages for actual injury. They are represented by Thomas Condit of Cincinnati.

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