ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando officials are investigating a complaint that an employee parked a city-owned vehicle, blocking the driveway of an abortion clinic and, when asked, wouldn’t move it.
The complaint, received Monday afternoon, states a Nissan Leaf with “orlando.gov” printed on the rear bumper blocked access to the Orlando Women’s Health Center, which offers abortion care. When volunteers who escort women into the center asked the driver to move the vehicle, the driver “harassed” them, the complaint reads.
This was at least the second encounter the driver had with volunteers at the clinic on Lucerne Terrace in the SODO area, according to the complaint. A week before, on July 23, the driver also blocked the driveway and refused to move it “blocking a doctor from entering the facility,” it states.
“I can confirm we have been made aware of this complaint and have opened an investigation,” said Ashley Papagni, a spokesperson for the city. “It is currently active and ongoing.”
She also confirmed the vehicle is used by an employee of its parking division.
It’s against the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act to “interfere with the right to seek, obtain or provide reproductive health services,” according to the Department of Justice’s website.
A volunteer, who spoke to Fox 35, which first reported the complaint, said the city employee was also talking to anti-abortion protesters who were outside the clinic.
The clinic offers everything from abortion care to breast exams, sexually transmitted infection treatment and diagnosis, and HIV and pregnancy testing.
An email sent to the clinic seeking comment remains unanswered.
