Freedom of speech is still alive in America.

At least it is in Keenewick, Washington, where a Benton County District judge dismissed charges against a Christian evangelist who preaches outside a Planned Parenthood clinic.

Eric Schonbachler travels around his state, preaching in front of abortion clinics. He carries a sign with a photo of a baby and he offers Bible tracts to women who are visiting the abortion clinics. He preaches, but without any sound amplification.

Last November, a Kennewick policeman confronted him outside a clinic and told him he was violating the city “noise ordinance.” Schonbachler politely told the policemen that he had the right to free speech under the First Amendment. The policeman disagreed and gave him a municipal citation.

Thankfully, the court disagreed. The judge ruled that the human voice does not violate the local noise ordinance and granted a motion to dismiss.

Brad Dacus, President of Pacific Justice Institute (which represented Schonbachler), said, “We are pleased with the favorable court ruling for this public evangelist who simply desires to share hope and truth with the women who end up at Planned Parenthood’s door. PJI is strategically positioned along the Pacific Coast to preserve the fundamental rights of U.S. citizens to freely share religious speech in public forums.”

Abortion is the greatest legalized evil in America and people of good conscience should be allowed to speak out against it in the public arena.

Free speech still trumps pro-abortion opposition in Washington State.