A Brunswick pastor preaching outside Portland’s Planned Parenthood abortion clinic Tuesday was told by police that he was violating the Maine Civil Rights Act and may be subject to arrest or other civil enforcement measures.
[RELATED: Pro-Abortion Satanist Berates Christians Protesting Outside Portland Planned Parenthood…]
The pastor, John Andrade of Pro-Life Missionaries of Maine, frequently preaches outside of the Congress St. abortion clinic using a small microphone and amplifier.
Andrade told the Maine Wire that he has had countless interactions with the Portland Police, and that last week he was approached by officers alongside Maine Assistant Attorney General Leanne Robbin and other staff from the Attorney General’s office.
Andrade was warned that due to his use of amplification, he may be in violation of a provision in the Maine Civil Rights Act designed to protect patients from interference when receiving health services.
Despite the warning, Andrade returned to preach outside of the clinic on Tuesday — when he was told again by a Portland Police officer that his actions violate the Maine Civil Rights Act, and that he may be subject to arrest.
The provision of the Maine Civil Rights Act in question, a responding officer told the Maine Wire, prohibits “intentionally making a noise that can be heard within a building” with the further intent to either “jeopardize the health of persons receiving health services within the building,” or “to interfere with the safe and effective delivery of those services within the building.”
Both U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine Darcie McElwee and Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey have affirmed that this provision regarding “health services” applies to abortion clinics.
“We want it known that our offices will not allow any interference in the rights of citizens to access abortion services in Maine,” Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey said in a Dec. 2022 press release. “Our offices will not hesitate to take every legal action to ensure the free access to reproductive health care and legal abortion services.”
In 2015, then-Attorney General Janet Mills filed a Civil Rights Act complaint against against a protestor who was yelling towards the second floor of the Portland Planned Parenthood facility.
“All patients have the right to receive medical services free of the cacophony of political protests, in the words of the United States Supreme Court,” Mills said in a Nov. 2015 press release. “While protestors have every right to say anything they want in a public area in the vicinity of a medical facility, they are not permitted to disrupt another citizen’s health care services.”
While Andrade was not arrested on Tuesday, he told one of the responding officers that he was not sure if he was going to comply with the officer’s order to stop using amplification.
Andrade told the Maine Wire that he is willing to be arrested, because “this is a fight that’s worth having.”
“I’m ready to just stand and come what may, because this can’t be tolerated in our city,” he said.
“Planned Parenthood isn’t concerned with life, they’re concerned with killing people,” he said. “And they have a lot of sway, a lot of people in their pockets, and when they snap their fingers and they don’t want somebody around, they have the authority to move mountains — but we’re one that isn’t going to be moved.”
The Brunswick pastor explained that he is not “just trying to get a rise out of people,” but “trying to glorify the Lord Jesus.”
[RELATED: Maine Senate Blocks Ban on Trafficking in Aborted Baby Remains…]
“We’re trying to expose this horrific, demonic world of child sacrifice — we want it out of our city,” Andrade said. “We want the city to be freed from the amount of bloodshed that is on their hands just from being in the vicinity of it, and it’s in the epicenter of the town.”
While preaching outside of the Portland abortion clinic, Andrade has been assaulted and verbally accosted by passersby — interactions that are documented and posted regularly on the Pro-Life Missionaries of Maine Facebook page.
In June, the Maine Wire reported on a pro-abortion Satanist that confronted Andrade, shouted profanities at him, and then walked away down Congress St. yelling “Hail Satan!”
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="22798 https://www.themainewire.com/?p=22798">11 Comments
Ahhhh, the People’s Republic of Portland. They permit Pro-Palestinian demonstrations from morons who know nothing about the barbaric history of Islamic jihad or its doctrine, but threaten to arrest a preacher for trying to prevent baby killers from selling body parts. Eventually, especially once the city elects a Sharia-compliant Mayor, it will allow the wailing from loudspeakers for the Adhan 5 times a day , but won’t consider that amplification a nuisance. Any takers?
We the people are warning Portland cops that communism will not be tolerated in Maine. Oathbreakers.
ME Infidel – do you even know the definition of “infidel”, likely not…
Mr. Gasper – please provide evidence that the Portland Police are “communist”…
Just for the record, do either of you know all the services provided by Planned Parenthood in Portland? Nope, you don’t.
Civil disobedience comes at a cost. Our laws are our laws and if you choose to violate them there can be legal implications. Pastor John Andrade has clearly stated he is willing to be arrested over his beliefs. That’s his choice. You ME Infidel and Mr. Gaspar seem to feel that enforcing our laws is anti-American. Interesting views but nothing could be further from the truth. If you don’t like the laws then work to get them changed.
Mike Grove,
I do, in fact, know what the meaning of “infidel” is, but don’t see the relevance of your question.
Because there is a law, it doesn’t mean it’s in the best interest of the citizenry.
For example, the Leftists/Marxists/Democrats in the current ME legislature passed LD 1619 (FULL TERM abortion) despite10 to 1 testimonies against the bill at the public hearing.
If you couldn’t follow the analogy in my original post, I can’t help it. That’s on you.
I don’t know Pastor Andrade, but do know this quote attributed to Edmund Burke, “All that’s necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
I wonder where the enforcement was back in June when the satanist was yelling profanities – I suppose those couldn’t be heard inside?
Not allowing him to preach there is a clear free speech (1A) violation. Portlands silly law clearly violates the Constitution which is sadly typical of extremist far left policies.
Planned Parenthood, founded by Bill Gates Sr. was accused of SELLING aborted fetus’ and baby body parts, much of which is used in dark Satanic ritualistic practices AND in the manufacturing of cosmetics. Believe it or not.
Janet Mills and her praetorian guards are a mockery of the constitution. Planed Parenthood is a body parts harvesting operation, which funds the democratic regime. Proof, Look no further than the state senate blocking the bill that would ban the sick act of trafficking harvested body parts.
Democrats are evil people and the RINO republicans are worse.
“….. free of the cacophony of political protests,”
That would be a welcome change in Portland. Outrage du jour is a tiresome pastime here,
Leftist groups use amplification all the time in downtown.
Portland, ME seems to want to be like Portland, OR, #%&#hole.