The clinic has a private parking lot, offering a unique security layer most abortion providers lack. She said she intends to show graphic anti-abortion television ads as part of her campaign. ”On June 4, anti-abortion activist Danny Bracken struck Kirstin Cassell with his car outside Greensboro’s only remaining abortion provider, where Cassell volunteers as an escort. Twitter – adds sky daddy to vocabulary. S. Escorting, regardless of your gender, can be taxing. By 2008, the Jackson Women’s Health Organization was the only abortion clinic left in the state. ( 541) 344-9411. Interested in joining? Planned Parenthood is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified applicants, regardless of gender, race, or sexuality. Columbia , SC 29204. ( 541) 344-9411. Sullivan said her clinic believes women need more options than the “quick solution” that an abortion provides and believes abortion is a “lonely, fear-based and always destructive” solution. In October 2021, Houck was involved in an incident outside a Philadelphia abortion business where a pro-abortion clinic escort had repeatedly bullied and intimidated his 12-year-old son who was with him to help sidewalk counsel and encourage women to choose pro-life alternatives. At the end of their shift as clinic escorts break down the. After the jury returned its verdict, an army of U. These volunteers safely guide patients into clinics, protecting them from the chaos created outside by anti-abortion protesters. To understand the role and what it entails, we turned to Marian Starkey, a volunteer Planned Parenthood clinic escort in Maine who has been guiding patients past protesters at different locations. S. You may see our clinic escorts in rainbow vests there to help guide you. Photo Composite by The Daily Beast, Courtesy of Christie BurkhartVolunteer escorts who help patients access abortion clinics say they are facing more threats and violence from anti-abortion. Meet Karen Musick, the ‘abortion rights missionary’ of Arkansas. . Interested in joining? Planned Parenthood is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified applicants, regardless of gender, race, or sexuality. Abortion clinics are still open in North Carolina, because abortion is essential, time sensitive health care. Harassment of patients has escalated since Roe v. The second assault caused “injuries to B. WE Health Clinic, the only abortion provider in northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula, could become more in demand for out-of-state patients. Hoffpauir said that, although abortion clinic escorts are people from different careers and backgrounds, they are united in their belief in access to health care without judgment and harassment. A Woman's Choice Clinic Greensboro North Carolina | Abortion Clinic Greensboro North Carolina Call (336) 273-9485. , Rachel Marsala willingly endured months of harassment. Clinic escorts are some of the abortion rights movement’s unsung heroes. Clinics that do not comply. In states where abortion is still legal or not banned outright, volunteer clinic escorts walk patients to and from the abortion providers' doors as a protective reassurance against. Your information is private and anonymous. Wade, abortion advocates and providers are bracing for a surge in clinic violence. According to the federal charges, he shoved a 72-year-old volunteer escort of abortion clinic patients to the ground, which “resulted in bodily injury. 23, 2022, on federal charges for allegedly physically assaulting a volunteer escort at a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in Philadelphia in October 2021. Nox, center, and Jenny, right, are clinic escorts at Metropolitan Medical Associates in Englewood, NJ. AGE This field is required. Jurors will reconvene on Monday. There were laws that regulated the use of medication abortion in the clinic, and. Stephanie Smittle. I am a volunteer abortion clinic escort. Call or click for an appointment. Credit: Provided. Book Online. Get Directions. Abortion-rights activists counter protest at a monthly anti-abortion march from Old St Patricks Church to a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic on November 5, 2022 in New York City, New York. “The. Orlando abortion clinic escorts stand guard as Florida's six-week ban looms: With reproductive rights under attack, one volunteer group has committed itself to standing up to anti-choice. View Hours Retrieving hours. Abortion clinic escorts are a sad lot. Keith Dalton, a pastor and father of five, protests against abortion outside Jackson Women's Health Organization as clinic volunteer Kim Gibson prepares to escort patients inside. Between 2020 and 2021, NAF’s data shows assault and battery outside clinics spiking 128%, with most of the 123 incidents “involving anti-abortion protesters having altercations with clinic escorts, clinic staff, patient companions, and patients,” NAF says. The abortion “escort’s” initial claim to have been “pushed from behind” by Houck, McHale said, conflicts with video footage that “shows clearly that Mr. ” Mark Houck, known for his sidewalk counseling outside a Philadelphia. Abortions at Preferred Women’s Health are induced by medication, according to clinic escort and Abortion Access Front staffer Max Carwile. This article appears in the. protestors argued with clinic escorts and shouted at women. Skip to Main Content; Skip to Related Content; News. Recently, I was having a conversation with some other reproductive justice-inclined folks about cisgender men who are clinic escorts. In 1994, the Federal Access to Clinic Entrances Act, or FACE, made it a crime to block access to clinics that offer abortion services. If you need an abortion and don't know where to go, use our tool to find nearby Planned Parenthood health centers that offer abortion services and care. The clinic subsequently relocated to New Mexico but the clinics’ escorts, all of whom were volunteers, remained in Mississippi. Volunteer Clinic Escorts. Clinic escorts are invaluable volunteers who help make safe, legal abortion possible. ” on the indictment), was familiar with Houck because the two crossed paths at the Philadelphia abortion clinic many times previously. Earlier this week, the Duluth MN Clinic Defenders shared a video of an escort facing down a protester at another Minnesota clinic, the Whole Woman’s Health clinic in Bloomington. Clinic escorts stand on the other side of the. Houck was charged with two counts of violating the FACE Act in two incidents that occurred at a Planned Parenthood. Minutes earlier, the U. It is a safe and effective way of ending an early pregnancy. Police were called but did not press charges. In the book, Rankin, a writer and expert on abortion rights, traces the history of clinic escorts and defenders in the U. Planned Parenthood Southeastern PA, which operates eight clinics in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties, saw 36,000 health clinic patients last year, compared to 8,000 patients seeking abortion care. By Alex Seghers, Director of Education. Over the years, the color faded, but the. Becoming a clinic escort is a great way to show your support for abortion patients and improve access to abortion care. In this May 11, 2022, file photo, protesters at North Dakota's lone abortion clinic are flanked by patient escorts in rainbow-colored vests, in Fargo, N. If your last period was more than 11 weeks ago, read about our in-clinic abortion services below. The 28-year-old volunteered at Little Rock Family Planning Services for nearly a year. Newsom was telling “a lot of whoppers,” said DeSantis, whose props included a purported map of feces in San Francisco. Planned Parenthood is America’s most trusted provider of reproductive. The experience of older clinic escorts, shared in interviews over the course of recent months, shows what Roe meant for a specific cohort: women who fought in support of abortion access when they. The most committed activists remain undeterred by criminal charges anyway. Asia Brown, a patient escort at the only abortion clinic in Mississippi, started volunteering after learning that women arriving for services were often confronted by protesters. — A young woman entered the parking lot of the only abortion clinic. The indictment against Houck claims he “assaulted” the man only “because Love was a volunteer at the abortion clinic”. They tell blatant lies about abortion, contraception and reproductive health care, and they perpetuate shame and stigma around female. I was pro-life. “Before that, I was unaware of protesters outside the local clinic. Get Involved. Harrisburg , PA 17102. Maronite bishop dives deep into the ‘masculine soul’. " Mark Houck, 48, was arrested at his home in rural Bucks County, Pennsylvania, the morning of Sept. Others remained open, but did not have staff available to monitor protesters or track: anti-abortion incidents and activity. 5 stars—This is the story of the institution and work of volunteers who escort patients into abortion clinics—especially during the violent days of the 1980s and 1990s, when shootings and bombings at clinics were frequent occurrences. Congress purposefully excluded abortion clinic escorts from Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act protections, attorneys for pro-life father Mark Houck argued in a pretrial hearing Tuesday. org. The Kintnersville, Pa. An abortion clinic escort in Nebraska looks out for bombs to keep patients entering the building safe. TikTok user Jo, or @virgobbb, also posts fairly prolifically about her work as an abortion clinic escort. “A powerful tribute to abortion clinic escorts . Chairs fill the room with mundanereprints of flowers hanging just above. Abortion Pill (Medication Abortion) Availability and how to prepare The abortion pill (also known as a medication abortion) is offered up to 11 weeks after the first day of your last menstrual period. In October 2021, Houck was involved in an incident outside a Philadelphia abortion business where a pro-abortion clinic escort had repeatedly bullied and intimidated his 12-year-old son who was with him to help sidewalk counsel and encourage women to choose pro-life alternatives. We truly appreciate the support we receive from. ” on the indictment), was familiar with Houck because the two crossed paths at the Philadelphia abortion clinic many times previously. After multiple verbal assaults and the abortion activist getting into his son’s face, Houck pushed him away and he fell. He said he asked the man to move away from his son several times and eventually. , the state’s only abortion clinic, in 2017. New details have emerged in the high-profile assault case against a Bucks County anti-abortion activist accused of twice shoving and injuring a volunteer escort outside a Philadelphia reproductive health clinic whose trial is set for. In this June 25, 2022, file photo, volunteer clinic escorts shield a patient from anti-abortion activists outside the Hope Clinic For Women in Granite City, Illinois. Becoming a clinic escort is a great way to show your support for abortion patients and improve access to abortion care. The first visit is to prepare for the procedure with cervix dilation. Wade may lead to clinic-escorts in North. On Wednesday, the U. After the fall of Roe v. 2425 Randleman Road Greensboro, NC 27406 (336) 273-9485. What It's Like to Be an Abortion Clinic Escort. Get Involved. Love is antagonizing and. The work of clinic escorts is essential to ensuring that patients can access the legal healthcare they need, without. In the face of the recent leak of a draft opinion that confirmed the Supreme Court is set to overturn Roe v. Or they may try to hand you baby clothes or small dolls to shame or intimidate you. Sevillano, a 34-year-old Fort Pierce software engineer with a lifelong passion for activism, said the 2022 overturning of Roe v. 3 of 13 | . Clinic escorts are a friendly face and a barrier between patients and protesters, and they help patients access reproductive health care free from harassment, intimidation, and shame. Office Hours Monday - Thursday | 8 AM - 5 PM Friday | 8 AM - 4 PM Saturday | 8 AM to 12 PM. Henkin chairs of the clinic escort program for West Alabama Women's Center in Tuscaloosa, one of the three abortion clinics left in Alabama, and formerly lead communications for The Yellowhammer. In September 2021, S B 8 went. . Attacks against pro-lifers on the rise. The jury deciding the fate of Mark Houck was "deadlocked" after two-and-a-half hours of deliberation Friday in a case that could see the pro-life advocate imprisoned for up to 11 years if found guilty of a federal violation for pushing an abortion clinic escort in a verbal dispute. ABCClinic Escorts in Greensboro, North Carolina, May 8, 2021. These efforts came to a head with the court case, Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The Clinic Escort Program is comprised of an elite class of volunteers with the mission of patient safety and support at select health centers where protesters are an issue. Clinic escorts stand on the other side of the. The man fell when Houck pushed. Ever since the U. Half of U. Last Saturday, I spent my morning in the company of nearly two dozen lurkers, skulkers, stalkers, harassers, and creeps. ___ Other help offered. A Woman's Choice Clinic Raleigh North Carolina | Abortion Clinic Raleigh North Carolina Call (919) 781-6811. Clinic escort Sam Robertson(right) stands between abortion protester Mickey Buckmaster while he stands in front of the Tulsa Women's Clinic as patients enter Wednesday, April 13, 2022 in Tulsa, Okla. Houck was arrested for allegedly assaulting an abortion clinic volunteer in violation of the federal FACE Act. If you aren’t familiar, a clinic escort is a volunteer who helps patients into and out of abortion clinics, wearing clearly marked uniforms to distinguish them from anti-abortion protesters who often surround these buildings. Mary Lumpkin, a clinic escort, has been guiding women into abortion clinics for about nine months now. An Abortion Clinic One Year Later. In Louisville, Ky. Instead, the abortion activist became the instigator and attacker and Houck had. S. In the first three months of 2022, our volunteer clinic escorts have filled 100+ shifts at the two independent abortion clinics in the Twin Cities, helping patients access healthcare free from intimidation, harassment, and shame. Find Abortion Provider. July 13, 2022. , which is the home turf of Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising, a group whose members are deeply involved with Red Rose Rescue and several of whom are. They have shown up despite bombs, bans, shootings, and a global. A federal trial opened Jan. David Kolpack/AP, FILEShe told Unicorn Riot that after reading a news article about an abortion clinic escort being doxxed by anti-choice protesters, Hady was inspired to try the risky, yet critical work of clinic escorting. On Saturday mornings, the Midori parking lot turns into a de-facto anti-abortion fair, with awnings, tables, a stage and a mobile ultrasound clinic from Greensboro Pregnancy Care Center. . People aren't embarrassed to talk about abortion anymore. EMW co-owner Ona Marshall said "there were multiple violations of the safety zone. 3. To understand the role and what it entails, we turned to Marian Starkey, a volunteer Planned Parenthood clinic escort in Maine who has been guiding patients past protesters at. When your state has only one clinic, things can get intense. . . OpenSIUC. Started in 2016, we have evolved to over 100 escorts, at 3 health centers around the state of Arizona, escorting almost 16,000 patients annually. “For a long time, I struggled with the morality of abortion. A Bristol Women's Health volunteer clinic escort, who asked to remain anonymous, speaks about what it takes to get an abortion. Thompson runs the clinic's viral Tik Tok page, “ Duluth MN Clinic Escorts. In October 2021, Houck was involved in an incident outside a Philadelphia abortion business where a pro-abortion clinic escort had repeatedly bullied and intimidated his 12-year-old son who was with him to help sidewalk counsel and encourage women to choose pro-life alternatives. Book Online. Preparing. Longtime anti-abortion activist Barbara Beavers, left, prays as she waits by the entrance to the Jackson Women’s Health Organization (JWHO), Mississippi’s last remaining abortion clinic parking lot, to hand out pro-life materials to an incoming patients, Tuesday, May 3, 2022, in Jackson, Miss. If your last period was more than 11 weeks ago, read about our in-clinic abortion services below. “When a car’s approaching, you need to move. Wade. South Carolina now has a 6 week abortion ban in effect. He bombed two abortion clinics in Cincinnati in 1985, and was convicted three years later of attempting to bomb an abortion clinic in Florida. (Camille Fine / Chicago Tribune)This personal account appears in Lauren Rankin’s new book, Bodies on the Line: At the Front Lines of the Fight to Protect Abortion in America. Less than 12 hours after Florida Gov. The volunteers are patient escorts who help patients walk to and from. , abortion clinic. Wade was overturned, the role of abortion clinic escorts has become more important than ever and their story must be told. During those months, she heard what she described as vile things from the anti. A. The indictment against Houck claims he “assaulted” the man only “because Love was a volunteer at the abortion clinic”. 421 Wendover Rd. (It can also be powerful, rewarding and beautiful. ” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Writer and activist Rankin presents a fervent abortion-rights history from the clinic escort’s perspective . Planned Parenthood of Greater New York is a leading provider of sexual and reproductive health services and information. abortion clinics, volunteer patient escorts brace for their work to get even harder post-Roe10 min. Their role is to assist patients and staff to enter and exit these facilities safely, and to prevent any potential harassment or danger to individuals. About the Author. , from. Now, a scene of pro-life advocates and escorts is common outside clinics across the state and country. LAUREN RANKIN is a writer, speaker, and expert on abortion rights in the United States. ” Eileen Soderstrom came to the rally in her bright pink “abortion clinic escort” vest. About 1 in 4 of our patients rely on some sort of subsidy from abortion funds, including the NAF Hotline Fund, the DC Abortion Fund, Access to Reproductive Care and Health (ARCH), the Blue Ridge Abortion Fund, the Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project, and the New River Abortion Access Fund .