On different days, we expect different protesters. There’s a family that shows up every Friday morning. They have their children with them. On Saturday mornings, there’s a group that says prayers as we walk past them. There’s also a woman who likes to yell really obscene things at our staff and our patients. She bothers me the most. And I’ll admit, there are days that I wish I could turn around and say something back to her. But when it comes down to it, I know that yelling at her isn’t going to make things any easier for the women and families in our community. The best thing I can do is walk through our doors and start serving our patients.
Protesters: 35
I am Emily X.
I am Planned Parenthood.
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12 comments:
Emily X--
This is an amazing thing you're doing. I just went to an amazing planned parenthood event here in Atlanta, and know just how hard it is to spread this message through the south. I wish you could yell back too, but the strength and support you show those who do enter your doors is far more powerful than any clever or angry comeback. (Maybe you should share a list of what you WISH you could say(: )Take good care!
You are not alone! As a cancer survivor who received great healthcare from PP during all the stressful times, I've had similar experiences--I was yelled at by a person (who I thought I knew) who told me he was "glad I got cancer" and went on to say that I deserved to suffer and die because I am pro-choice.
Being pro-choice also means choosing to cure your cancer--or mental illness as is the case of these folks who are unbalanced enough to inject themselves into private citizens' medical and family issues.
This obviously sick individual has never been welcome back in my life or my circle of friends since. My best friend's kids never felt safe around him, that tells us everything. Hopefully one day his state of mental illness will be declared as such and he can get the psychiatric help he needs.
A lot of this is about socio-economic status. People who are really poor can't afford to go really far away to get reproductive care, so they are more likely to suffer if there aren't places like PP around. Thanks for being there.
Anyone who could wish cancer and death on someone is not pro-life, no matter what his words and his little signs say.
Let's hope that the last 3 days of this assault upon women's reproductive freedom will pass as all the other lunacies have all these years. Yes, the court issues & hassles of opening new clinics have been serious & expensive. And having testified in Columbia, SC against the insane "ultrasound" bill S84, I'll continue to be vigilant against these continuous drumbeats of harassment tactics which are non-medical & merely theocratic.
Nonetheless, I commend every staff member at women's clinics for their grin & bear it silence when the loonies shout out their intimidation messages.
It is the security guards & we volunteer escorts who must put up with hours & hours of the verbal abuse, being illegally photographed & possibly worse by these enemies of women.
When they start out their horrific taunts, we sing out Woody Guthrie Songs, Union Maid & This Land Is Our Land.
We're not being clever or angry, we're just defending all within earshot from senseless verbal abuse with something better.
I do hope that the US Sup Ct will bring clarity in the frozen embryo case, on when "life" really begins. The claim that "she is already pregnant" is ludicrous, with regard to embryoes frozen years & years ago.
Ok, thanks again for this opportunity for us here in the deep South to vent away some frustrations.
Peace, Larry
You guys are brave and amazing! The protesters are ignorant. And probably have no clue as to how much good Planned Parenthood does. PP is so much more than just abortions and perhaps if the protesters could open their minds enough to educate themselves, they wouldn't focus so much of their hate on PP. But I applaud you! Keep up the good work!!
In ALL ways. Blessings, Loree
You guys are brave and amazing! The protesters are ignorant. And probably have no clue as to how much good Planned Parenthood does. PP is so much more than just abortions and perhaps if the protesters could open their minds enough to educate themselves, they wouldn't focus so much of their hate on PP. But I applaud you! Keep up the good work!!
In ALL ways. Blessings, Loree
Dear Emily X,
I'm an on again/off again clinic escort (two jobs) in MetroDetroit.
Our volunteer coordinator gave us this link with a monthly email.
Thanks to all of you for the wonderful work you are doing.
I'll definately be doning the blue "Escort" apron whenever I can.
I think planned parenthood is a great organization. What most of these protesters don't know is that ya'll actually explain abstinence. The pamphlets that ya'll provide are so informative and simple to understand. I know that when I have a child of my own i will have them read your pamphlets. Thank you so much for the service in Houston.
It makes me sick when these people bring their children with them, and hold up these disgusting inaccurate signs. Just this past weekend again the protestors were out in full force by out PP. Our particular PP is 'featured' in their websites. Women should not have to deal with this, and my children shouldn't have to view those pictures and be frightened! These peopl edon't care about my children or their own. Don't they realize that PP services actually prevent more abortions from happening. I am impressed by all of the services you offer for women. Thank you, thank you thank you!
I think this blog has shined a light where it was needed. Thank you for doing it. We need more of this.
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