The banners protest the Family Planning Associate Medical Group on the northwest corner of San Bernardino Street and Fremont Avenue.

The medical group, which has been in the city for more than eight years, performs abortions.

The banners are attached to the driver and passenger sides as well as the back of a sport utility vehicle.

At Tuesday's council meeting, resident Liza Harari said she doesn't have a problem with demonstrators and acknowledges their rights, but takes issue with the photos on the banners.

"One photo is showing the intestines of the child with all the blood and the other one has a baby head held in tongs," said Harari, who has lived in Montclair for 22 years. "If it makes me want to throw up, what do you think a child would want to do?"

Harari said it wasn't until she had children that the photos started to bother her.

Harari said she doesn't know if the city has the right to censor the banners or if there is a way the SUV can display their banners at different times.

"Because, right now, it's when school starts, and kids are walking right by there," she said.

"I walked by it Tuesday with my 2- and 3-year-old and they saw it. They understand what it is, but their faces looked like they were traumatized from it."

Harari's contention is not uncommon, Mayor Paul Eaton

"Most of us have seen the pictures and have been through this several times. You're not alone ... " Eaton said. "But folks do have their rights to do that."

Council members instructed City Attorney Diane Robbins to look into whether the city has any jurisdiction or legal rights to remove the images from the SUV.

Protesters are usually in front of the business twice a week, Tuesday and Friday, and have always complied with city ordinances, Community Development Director Steve Lustro said.

"So long as they are playing by the rules, they're allowed to be there just like everyone else," Lustro said. "They too have First Amendment rights that have to be respected."

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