At the End of the Day

Burlington, Vermont: As we near the end of this year’s “40 Days for Life” campaign, I’m reflecting on the daily impact of the protesters.

We’ve become accustomed to facing protesters every morning on our way into work and most evenings on our way home. They either block the steps to create a barrier for staff and patients, or try to shame us from across the street with signs, posters, and banners.

The protesters try to convince the staff that we are doing something morally wrong by coming to work. They try to deter our patients by making them feel guilty for picking up a pack of pills, getting a Pap test, or receiving abortion services. Many of our patients are scared, and feel threatened by the protesters. We do what we can to comfort our patients, yet encourage them not to lash out at the people who are making our job much more difficult than it needs to be.

We understand the concerns of our patients and the motivations of the protesters, but at the end of the day, we’re here to provide valuable services. We will persevere and stay strong, because we’re a resource to those who need us the most.

Number of protesters: 10

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.