They Don’t Know

I’ve been at Planned Parenthood in Tempe, Arizona, on and off since 1989. I was here when they started providing abortion services. I’m here now to witness the “40 Days for Life.”

Those protesters have no idea what happens inside these walls.

They don’t know about the 12-year-old who came in. She was raped by her father. We helped send him to prison.

They don’t know about the young girl who was sexually assaulted by a close friend.

They don’t know about the mother of six who brought her 17-year-old daughter in for an abortion. Their family was struggling for basic necessities. They had no food. The daughter excelled in high school and wanted to go to college. She wanted to have a future.

They don’t know about the girl who was raped by the “coyotes” that brought her and her mother across the border. She came to Planned Parenthood, pregnant and seeking an abortion.

They don’t know how we’ve helped these women — and thousands more.

Protesters: 20

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

This Is Harassment

I knew they were coming, but I didn’t expect to see this many people.

On Saturday, 250 protesters showed up at the Fannin Health Center in Houston, Texas, to harass Planned Parenthood clients. They called the day’s protest the “March of the Surviving Youth,” and circled around the health center seven times in a “Jericho March” intended to collapse the walls of the health center, like the story of Joshua in the Old Testament. No such luck.

I and my fellow escorts were vigilant as we guided clients safely from the parking lot to the health center, despite the efforts of protesters.

At one point, a group of them circled around me screaming, “I’m praying for you, ma’am!” and “You are not God’s child; you speak death!” and “You have no idea who you’re messing with!”

This is not a so-called “peaceful protest.”

This is harassment.

But we will continue to stand together in support of comprehensive reproductive health care — including access to safe abortion care.

We will make sure that despite a few harassing voices, we will be here for the millions of women, men, and teens that need access to basic health care.

We will continue to be here for our patients throughout the “40 Days for Life,” just like we have every day since 1936.

Protesters: 250

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

Prescott, Arizona

We have had picketers since the day we opened in Prescott. We started offering medication abortion in December 2004, and they were here before then. It’s funny — they used to come every Wednesday until they realized we were offering the abortion pill on Thursdays.

There are between four and six people at a time, generally the same people with the same signs. They have been talking more to patients, lately — telling lies. They say we are prescribing low-dose pills so that women will get pregnant, that the abortion pill will cause ulcers or make it impossible for them to get pregnant in the future. Outright lies. It’s ridiculous.

I’ve been at this health center since 1985. I’m a PA (physician assistant). I do basic women’s health care, including birth control, STDs, Pap tests, and mammogram referrals — the full range of services. And at this health center, we see everything.

We saw a vulnerable 17-year-old woman who was molested at age four by her uncle. She hadn’t told anyone until she told us.

We saw a 58-year-old woman who was new to the area. She felt a lump in her breast but couldn’t get an appointment for a mammogram — until we scheduled her in right away and made the necessary referrals.

We saw a mom who came in every so often to purchase condoms that she tucks into the bathroom drawers for her boys.

We saw a woman — a single mother of two girls — who came here first, for affordable birth control. Now her daughters come here, too.

One day, I was talking to a patient for follow up. She was crying. In my experience, people are usually happy and smiling at their follow-up visits. I asked her what was wrong, and she said the protesters yelled at her, saying that she was going to hell.

After that, I signed up for a monthly donation of $100. I figured if I couldn’t stop the protesters, I could at least ease some of the financial burdens faced by our patients.

I’ve been through 24 years of them out there, once a week, praying — or should I say “preying” — on the vulnerable. And I can say one thing — it doesn’t change the good work we do inside this health center.

Protesters: 5

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

Tempe, Arizona

I work in the clinic here in Tempe, and am one of the few men on staff.

Here, the protesters are a fixture — whether or not it’s “40 Days for Life.” I tell patients they wouldn’t find our facility if not for the people gathered together outside.

“Every village has its idiots,” I say, “and we have ours.”

Last weekend, there were 30 people out in front of the building — more than normal — plus the ultrasound van. The van has mobile ultrasound, and free pregnancy tests — like a “crisis pregnancy center” on wheels, ready to scare women with biased information.

I know it can be intimidating to have to get through a bunch of protesters, but do I think they’re deterring patients from coming in? No.

It’s a year-round phenomenon — heavier on Fridays and Saturdays. There are going to be protesters out there, five or 50, depending on the day and who’s organizing.

If I don’t call the cops once a weekend, I’m surprised. It’s part of my daily routine. I make a point, on the days we provide abortions, to walk out there and make our presence known. We count them, and note if there are any new ones or weirdoes.

I am a soldier on the frontline of what we do.

Typically, I am one of the first people that a patient sees when they come in. Maybe because I’m a guy, they often think I’m the doctor. But when I start talking they realize I’m not. I sit and talk with women, crying women — and by the time we’re done talking there are no more tears. I’m helping them through the process.

I have three sisters, and I know they’ve have some tough decisions to make. So I get up every morning to fight for these women’s rights.

Protesters: 30

I am Emily X

I am Planned Parenthood.

Chicago, Illinois

There’s been an uptick in the activity recently. We saw it first when Obama was elected, and again after Dr. Tiller’s murder.

It’s both the number of protesters who are outside, and the aggressiveness of their tactics. We’ve got protesters who are impersonating medical personnel, giving “advice.” And we’ve got protesters wearing bright yellow vests with “Parenthood volunteer” and a cross that looks amazingly like Planned Parenthood’s logo—so they look just like our volunteers. Anything they can to do confuse, harass, and intimidate. It’s gotten really bad, especially at our Near North health center.

That’s why we pushed for the buffer zone ordinance. It was introduced at a city council meeting last month, and went for a vote in the human relations committee two weeks ago. The full city council voted on Wednesday. It passed 28 to 13, and should be in force by mid-November.

Starting then, protesters will have to stay at least eight feet away from people outside health centers. The safe space will exist within 50 feet of the entrance of all health centers. Those who get too close will face a fine. It doesn’t stop the harassment, but it’s a start.

Some people have gotten used to the protesters and say they’re fine as long as they obey laws and stay out of our way. But the patients aren’t fine. They’re coming in upset, angry. It’s not fair for them to be in the middle of this war zone.

I am so proud to work for Planned Parenthood, to be fighting for the issues I care about—reproductive rights, women’s health care, and access to health care, which is my passion. I fight for those issues every day. Particularly when you hear stories of what’s going on on the front lines, to be able to change public policy to make a difference in the lives of teens, women, and those in need — it’s very rewarding.

Protesters: anywhere from 8-20

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

Bucks County, Pennsylvania

We’ve got “40 Days for Life” protesters in addition to the regulars. Most of the protesters are peaceful, but there’s one with a bullhorn who verbally harasses our escorts and patients.

As our patients get out of their cars, they’re greeted by our invaluable escorts, who guide them into our health center and help them feel safe. However, it’s difficult to protect our patients from the protesters who shout at them with a bullhorn. The harassment goes way beyond demonstrating one’s opinion — it’s abusive and disrespectful.

We need to continue to serve our communities, as comprehensive reproductive health care providers. We’re here to ensure that our community receives quality reproductive health care and information, including annual exams, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, and counseling. We do a lot more than the protesters think we do!

Stand UP against the protesters! Stand UP for our rights! Stand UP for reproductive health!

Protesters: 48

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

Update from Houston, Texas

We’ve had more than 450 protesters at our health centers in Houston since the “40 Days for Life” began. Last Saturday we had more than 90 protesters at the main location alone.

Police have been called several times when protesters have attempted to put their hands on clients.

New tactics are being tested, including:

· stopping cars in the street before patients can reach the health center driveway

· visibly and aggressively filming clients

· trespassing on health center grounds to leave hateful brochures on cars in our parking lots

Protesters: 450

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.