If You Don't Hear From Me, Assume I've Been Assassinated
At least this is the fear of all of my friends who I've told about my intention to volunteer at one of my local Planned Parenthood clinics.
More than one of them expressed fear for my safety, and think I could be shot and killed by some rabidly insane anti-choice protester.
When I told my mom about what some of my friends were suggesting, she almost had a cardiac arrest and insisted we not "put that out into the universe".
I know this is going to sound naive but it never really occurred to me that I'd be in serious "physical danger" by simply volunteering at a clinic that performs abortions.
My thoughts didn't even enter that realm.
I thought about the range of emotions women must experience when faced with an unplanned pregnancy...I had the desire to show meaningful support to them...I thought about the best way to show my support and decided that PP would be the best place to do that.
Also, when I was a broke college student, PP was the means in which I (along with many of my friends) obtained contraception and FREE condoms. That was an INVALUABLE service to me at the time so I am super grateful to the organization, and am now in a position where I can give back.
That was pretty much the end of my thought process.
Is that bad?
Maybe I'd be more apprehensive if I were in the deep south with all those anti-choice crazies?
Not that Phoenix doesn't have it's share of crazies though...
Honestly, I'm not exactly sure why I'm not more "afraid".
Perhaps I should be but it's too late now, I already have an interview scheduled!
Obviously, now that I've been urged to "fear for my life", I will have to ask some detailed questions during the interview about the protest activity at this particular clinic.
Such as: Has anyone ever flashed a 9MM or assault rifle to any of the workers? What about grenades or other explosives? If I'm involved in a "physical altercation", will they jump in and "have my back"?? Am I allowed to pack my own "gat" for protection? What is the protocol in the event I am taken hostage? Does PP provide volunteers with bullet proof vests and helmets or will I need to supply my own?
*ok now I'm being glib*
What do you guys think?
Has anyone volunteered at a women's clinic (that happens to provide abortions)? Would you?
Am I nuts for going through with this or are my friends being a wee bit dramatic?
Mahogany Misfit - Monday, August 24, 2009 at 03:31PM - 8 said something... - filed under Women's Issues Email Article 
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Reader Comments (8)
I've worked at 2 different abortion clinics, one as a volunteer in Portland, OR; and one as an actual employee in Michigan. I also did several interviews at a Huntsville, AL clinic during nursing school.
In Portland, they believe in 'peaceful' protests. The protesters have graphic signs that they display usually to passers by. They rarely talk to people going in and out of the clinic. I was asked once why I would support baby killing, to which I retorted..."If you are so pro-life, why do you meat-eaters support animal killing?" That phased him enough that the couldn't reply as I walked by.
Most of the protesters are good ol' church folk and aren't the violent type. I don't think I've ever encountered any violence whatsoever...I'm sure an assault suit is not in the church's best interest so they must tell their protesters to keep it peaceful.
In Huntsville, they were more 'red-neckish' and even though they didn't talk to me, I really was scared of them. (With all my redneck prejudices).
I guess the main thing would be to just have a quick entry and exit strategy. At the clinic in MI, we would come in through the back door...the protesters where there for attention from the public, and never harassed the back door.
Talk to the PP clinic about your fears (not the gun ones...lol), but the legitimate ones. I'm sure that they get questions like this alot. They must have a plan in place and experience to deal with issues like this. Fortunately, in OR, the protesters are only there in good weather (with the almost daily Portland rains, this is only and issue in the summer)
Good luck, and don't let them take your thunder!~
Your friends obviously care about your safety but I do think they're being a tad dramatic. Even though the media likes to hype them up, you have to remember that these acts of violence at abortion clinic's are VERY RARE!
I doubt you will be needing a "gat" (lol) or a Kevlar vest to block the bullets.
I'd just like to say, kudos to you for volunteering at a great organization and not being one of those bloggers who is all talk and no action about women's reproductive rights!
I have yet to volunteer since I work on call, but I've always wondered how it is. Hope you follow up to tell us about some of your experiences (if you're permitted to do so).
I agree with the other comments, but I'm a bit in my own world like like. I'm still trying to wrap my head around that these fools are really trying to tell me what to do with my own body.
For all of my good intentions I would be NO GOOD at a PP, I would cost them too much money because I would be cussing folks left and right.
With that said you're doing a great thing, but always be mindful of your environment and be ready to move when need be. You see ANY DAMN thing out of the ordinary MOVE FIRST question LATER!!!!
AND THAT"S AN ORDER lol
I'm pretty much in agreement with all of the posters. When I left home I was 18, still struggling with my sexual identity and my "auntie" took me to PP to get birth control and information about STD's. I had my first pap there (TMI, I know).
I totally support the efforts of PP. I had to stop reading a certain website because the webmaster began to spout off about PP in a very negative fashion. and no amount of telling this ass that PP is there for women of all ages when no one else is there for them, he still wasn't interested. And since I've used their gyno services, many times when I had no one to talk to about sexual health and no insurance to cover services like bc or paps, I think they are awesome! Besides any man thinking that he can tell a woman about her body needs to have his mind checked. But anyway...
As far as your family and friends fears, I don't think you'll have much to worry about. Keep a strong stomach (cause those aborted baby pics are sick shit) and keep a strong mind. Don't let the protestors see that you're intimidated because they will think it means you're wavering in your support of the clinic. Then they will be in your face a bit.
Let us know what you think after you've done it for awhile!
@Tessa *lol* I agree move your ass if there's anything suspicious happening. You be the person on television talking bout, "I saw it all from across the street..." *lol*
Vixen- Yes I forgot you are our resident health care expert! I'm glad you shared that...now I can use that information to my advantage the next time someone tells me I'm going to have a cap busted in my ass outside the clinic!
And you knowwww I have to use the dead animals example being a vegetarian. If people honestly think they have the right to eat fully grown slaughtered animals but I don't have a right to abort a fetus the size of a pinto bean growing inside MY body, their logic is fucked and fuck the fuck out of them and their ignorance.
Curious_Lit_Grrl- Thank you and yes you are right about these instances being rare and let's hope it stays that way.
Tessa- GOOD ADVICE!
I am going to make sure I wear my Asics in there so I can break into a quick sprint at a moment's notice!
And yes like you I am still stunned that my uterus and the contents of it are anyone's concern but my own. I mean after all, this is usually the same group of people that doesn't want to help SUPPORT the little miraculous beings once they're born. Once it's here they could give a shit but while it's in utero it's a miracle and a blessing.
Hmph, kiss my ass anti-choice movement.
Studpoet- Girl please, this blog was FOUNDED ON TMI. No one here minds that lol.
I can relate though because after college, I was kicked off my parent's insurance for being too damn old and didn't have medical insurance of my own so I have also had pap smears at PP. They are lifesavers as far as I'm concerned.
As a woman who's used PP, I think they are an excellent resource and one that should be respected and commended for what they do and the service they provide. For many, PP is the only available means of GYN care that they can get or afford, so they need all the outside support they can get.
I'm so sick of those hypocritical assholes that think they can kill someone who terminates pregnancies. I bet these sorry bastards wouldn't offer to adopt or be foster parents, but they've got no problem protesting. WTF?
MM, don't even get me started on this issue, cause it's one that I'm quick to get upset over. Great post though!
What I'm hoping is that you're too busy to blog rather than something has happened to you at the PP clinic. Are you out there?