In 1985, pro-life protesters picketed at eighty per cent of clinics that provided abortions.

Samuels is right to recognize the similarity between civil rights activists and pro-life protesters, when he describes the atmosphere among the protesters in Fulton County Jail.

"The pro-life protesters we had, we all knew by name," she said.

"We believe that this legislation targets peaceful, pro-life protesters," said David Varman, a legislative analyst for Focus on the Family, the evangelical ministry that is organizing opposition to the bill.

Dismissing the move as 'foolish', Dr Jim Howe appealed to pro-life protesters to let the matter rest.

In 1999, he represented pro-life protesters Linda Gibbons, Ken Campbell and Anneliese Steden at their trial for obstructing a peace officer outside a clinic.

She has also advocated electing female candidates, and training people to defend clinics from pro-life protesters around the United States.

His Fayetteville Women's Clinic was frequently picketed and blocked by pro-life protesters.

For that reason, the Court held, abortion clinics could not use the Hobbs Act to obtain an injunction against pro-life protesters.