Final answer:
No person has the legal authority to block access to abortion clinics due to the FACE Act, which makes it a federal offense. Despite ongoing debates and restrictions on abortion services, blocking clinic entrances remains unlawful.
Step-by-step explanation:
Authority to Block Access to Clinics
In the context of abortion clinic protests, the person with the authority to block access to clinics, under law, is essentially non-existent. This is due to the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE) passed by the United States Congress in 1991. The FACE Act explicitly makes it unlawful for any individual to use force, the threat of force, or physical obstruction to intentionally injure, intimidate, or interfere with any person seeking to obtain or provide reproductive health services. Therefore, any person acting to block access to an abortion clinic could be in violation of federal law.
While there are ongoing debates and legislative attempts to impose restrictions on abortion and abortion clinics, actual blocking of clinic entrances remains a federal offense. Court rulings, such as Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt (2016), have invalidated state laws that imposed unnecessary standards on abortion providers with the aim to limit access to abortion services. The federal government also has policies in place concerning the funding of abortions, with certain exceptions.