Grand Rapids, Mich. — Today the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a California law forcing prolife pregnancy centers to advertise for free abortions.

The 5-4 decision in NIFLA v. Becerra held that the California law unconstitutionally infringed on the free speech rights of prolife pregnancy centers. The law singled out prolife pregnancy centers and compelled them to speak against their own beliefs.

Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing said, “This is an important decision. It’s sad that pro-abortion elected officials would target prolife organizations which provide free support to women, men, and children. Today the U.S. Supreme Court agreed that singling them out for punishment violates the U.S. Constitution.”

Had the law been allowed to stand, it would have effectively neutralized the ability for California pregnancy centers to reach women through advertising.

Listing said, “The abortion industry sees pregnancy help centers as business competitors cutting into their revenue. In reality, prolife pregnancy centers are often volunteer-run and solely dedicated to providing concerned women a path forward to keeping their child and walking with them along the way.”

Prolife organizations provide pregnancy and adoption help services at more than 150 locations in Michigan. Many of the services are free, including counseling, clothing, diapers, formula, and parenting and life skills classes.

Listing said, “Prolife people do support women and children after they are born. Planned Parenthood may call prolife pregnancy centers ‘fake clinics,’ and pro-abortion legislators may try to shut them down, but that won’t affect the good work they do that deserves more attention.”