NC Abortion Clinic Has First Saturday Without Harassment in 8 Years

This past Saturday, a minor miracle occurred in North Carolina: For the first time in eight years, Family Reproductive Health, a clinic that provides abortion care, was not bombarded with anti-choice protesters. That means the doctors, nurses, and other staff were able to go to work without being harassed. It means that the patients were able to get the care they needed without people trying to shame and judge them. Given that extreme anti-choice group Operation Save America — formerly known as Operation Rescue — was planning to stage a huge event outside clinic doors that day, this day of peace is even more amazing.

Operation Save America — who also, by the way, oppose homosexuality and Islam — organized a big national event in Charlotte July 17-24. The plan was culminate the anti-choice rally with a big protest at Family Reproductive Health. For clinic workers and patients, that meant yet another Saturday of harassment.

Unfortunately for the Operation Save America folks, pro-choice people like the National Organization for Women (NOW) got wind of the plan ahead of time. They put the word out that supporters of reproductive freedom needed to be there to provide a human barrier between the clinic and the would-be harassers. NOW had phone volunteers call up North Carolina members and encourage them to come show their support of reproductive choice.

When all was said and done, about 70 pro-choice supporters came out on Saturday morning to peacefully protest Operation Save America's presence. They came from as far away as New York and Florida to stand up for a woman's right to choose. In a fantastic turn of events, the bus carrying the anti-choicers turned around. They just packed up their hate-filled signs and left. Amazing.

Imagine enduring year after year of hate and harassment. Imagine having to walk a gauntlet of judgment and anger in order to get into your doctor's office. Imagine the mental and emotional wear and tear of all of that. It is no wonder that clinic staff came out to thank the pro-choice supporters for enabling them to have their first protester-free day in eight years.

Events like this remind us all that we can do something to help the pro-choice movement. Anti-choice protesters aren't the only people who can show up at a clinic. The people at Family Reproductive Health who've had to deal with harassment for years. Why not call up your local clinic and ask what you can do to help? It is time we let those who would bully doctors and patients know that people who value reproductive freedom won't stand for it any more.

Photo credit: infowidget