WASHINGTON (AP) - Dick Retta is a regular outside a Planned Parenthood clinic in downtown Washington.
The 80-year-old grandfather is there three days a week, trying to persuade pregnant women not to get abortions. He says his approach is gentle and loving.
But government lawyers portray Retta differently. They say last year he physically blocked a woman from entering the clinic, shouting at her not to kill her baby. They sued him under a 1994 law that makes it a crime to intimidate or interfere with someone obtaining reproductive health services.
Retta is one of a handful of people nationwide charged every year under the law.
Lawyers for both sides have a meeting before a judge Thursday to see if they can come to an agreement in the case.
The Associated Press