Clear Channel lifted its ban on radio advertisements from the Wichita reproductive health clinic South Wind Women’s Center on Tuesday. The ads were originally banned in July for divisive content, although they promoted general reproductive health care services for women with no mention of abortion.
South Wind Women’s Center provides a range of reproductive health care services, and it is the only clinic that provides abortions in Wichita. It is located in the same building Dr. George Tiller used before he was assassinated by an anti-abortion activist in 2009.
The decision to lift the ban comes after supporters of the clinic planned to deliver a petition today with over 68,000 signatures asking the radio station to reconsider its ban. However, the company said the petition did not affect its decision. Clear Channel operations manager in Wichita, Tony Matteo, said, “As a responsible broadcaster we should use our best judgment to accept and run ads that do not violate the law or FCC standards and which are not intentionally hateful or incendiary.”
