Flying Fetus Fiasco

From The Guardian via The Smirking Chimp:

"The Guardian:
An anti-abortion group has gone to court to argue its right to fly pictures of aborted foetuses over tourist beaches on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, as aerial advertisements.

The Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform, based in California, already displays pictures of first-term aborted foetuses on billboards on the sides of trucks, as well as pictures of what it claims are aborted limbs on its website home page. Now it wants to take its message to the skies.

Robert Muise, a lawyer for the centre, told three judges from the San Francisco-based ninth US circuit court of appeals that flying the pictures over sunbathing holidaymakers was the only way his clients could make their point effectively. 'That's the essence of their message,' said Mr Muise. 'Those pictures convey messages that are rhetorically inexpressible.'

Claiming the ban violated freedom of speech, the organisation said it also effectively thwarted their ability to engage in public debate and influence opinion. They are seeking protection under the first amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech.
More at the link"