Has anybody done this (Escort at Planned Parenthood)?

[PennyK]

I received an e-mail from my local chapter, asking people to sign up to become Health Center Escorts. They said that protesters picket the office on Saturdays and are sometimes a nuisance to patients. I have heard that in some areas, this work is dangerous, but it doesn't sound that way from the description I got.
If anyone's had experience with this I'd appreciate it...this particular Planned Parenthood was there for me when I needed it as a young adult, and it would be a good way to thank them.

[mitchum]

1. I have done it, and didn't find it particularly dangerous...

but you may have to contend with a lot of red-faced, screaming crackers holding baby dolls

[Dookus]

2. Yes

I volunteered at two Planned Parenthoods and a private clinic. It was great fun. Alas, now I live in a place with no anti-abortion protestors.

The private clinic was a lot more fun because we were allowed to "engage" the protestors. Much fun was had. Many fights were started. Many police came on many occasions. It was a hoot.

Planned Parenthood has very strict rules - you can't engage the protestors in any way, so it's not nearly as much fun, but just as worthwhile, certainly, to the clients.

Good luck. PP is a great group and they deserve some help.

[7th_Sephiroth]

3. i live in Pensacola

i wouldent do it without borrowing my step-dad's SKS

[PennyK]

4. What is SKS?

[7th_Sephiroth]

5. this

yes that is a bayonet attached to the bottom, the protesters here are really violent, more than one bombing has happened here

[ultraist]

7. nice hardwood floors, wide slat oak? must be a historic house

[7th_Sephiroth]

8. i think its a wood panel wall

i THINK

[Withywindle]

6. Yes, I did it a long time ago...

...Usually it's not really that scary, if you can handle yelling. What I'm pretty sure they're tell you is that it's the client who's the focus--if you can talk with her, tell her jokes, whatever, to keep her mind off the creeps yelling at her, that'll do you both good.

Usually there are security guards keeping an eye on everything; it's rare you actually get a physical confrontation. It's more a matter of being a strong, reassuring presence.

[Scout]

9. do it

the clients will appreciate it, and you'll be glad you helped.

i've been an escort at private clinics more than planned parenthood, and my experience was much like that described by Dookus.

[RetroLounge]

10. Yes, I did it many years ago when the pro-life freaks

thought they could shut down all clinics in Milwaukee by using their kids to try to block the doors. Did it everyday for weeks one summer. Lots of screaming fake-Xtians and fat white men from the suburbs who think you are evil. The cops had city buses parked across the street and would just stand there until the fundy's charged the line. We had human chains four rows deep around the whole front of the clinic, and they would charge the line to try to get to the door. We were NOT supposed to engage them, just stand there, but one they got into the line and no one could see them, I used to grind my boots on a few fingers and knee a few faces now and then.

The highlights:

1) A man in a priest collar punched my friend who was an escort. A large Irish cop slammed the priest to the pavement, put a knee in his back and cuffed him. In a thick Irish accent said "Father, you dissapoint me and God."
2) A nun called me a Lesbian Spawn of Satan and spit in my face. (I'm a guy).

So yeah, it was fun. But bottom line, the clinic stayed open until the laws were passed to prevent this kind of harrassment.

RL

[theHandpuppet]

11. Kicking

Perhaps your thread will encourage some folks to volunteer.

[bettyellen]

12. yes, i have a few times. it's how i met my best friend.

and those were much scarier times, in the early nineties, there were more bombings, shootings and threats of both than we've seen in quite a few years. it was an epidemic. and the people protesting the clinic were actually hooked up with some scary violent people, including the man who would become the doctor- sniper,James Kopp. my friend was threatened quite a few times.

[PennyK]

13. Wowsers, you guys have had experience!

I knew this would be the place to go for advice on this subject! It doesn't sound like we have that much of a problem here (Hempstead, Long Island). I'm a mother of two teenage girls and I would probably be pretty good at providing a distraction if needed. As I said, I used to go to this office for birth control pills, and I did have an abortion there...a long time ago. They were always helpful, and I am grateful for the important work that they do. Since we're so broke these days, it would be a good way to support them. As it says on the email I got, "The PPNC Escort Program is a great way to stand up for choice and help secure reproductive freedom and access to health care in Nassau County!"
I believe I read that the woman who ran our clinic has taken over as the national chair.

[bettyellen]

17. I'm so proud of you that you are going to help....these groups show up

en mass from other states to target specific places for a while. It's so bizarre. the clinic i defended was fairly poor and the clients were a mix of urban latino and blacks for the most part. The protesters were 100% white and suburban/rural and fairly old. Except for a few seriously scary younger zealots. There's some weird circuit that these people travel to harass people far from their own homes.
We freaked out years later when James Kopp was arrested as he had said somehthing threatening to my friend when he saw her prochoice activist display. He was delivering pizza to her. It was freaky, it turned out it was a seriously fundie company (tied into the protests in the next town) that we were all using because they would deliver from any restuarant in town. We had no idea until he was extradited.

[Modem Butterfly]

14. Yes, I have, but not for PP

DO NOT engage the protestors while you're escorting a client. Please. And be careful!

[BamaBecky]

15. Yes, in Tuscaloosa there was a minister and some of his flock,

holding signs out near the highway. The volunteers help the patients get to and from their automobiles without harrassment. Some escorts sing to drown out the "taunts", or blow whistles..it's effective....watch a "pro", then do it! I would if I could, but I don't live near Tuscaloosa now.

[matcom]

16. if you have the time, DO IT!

please. and thank you.

[davsand]

18. Did it years ago at a private clinic.

It was mostly a bunch of old white dudes or young guys--but not many women of child bearing age. Clinic escort was not a bad way to go, and I can't say I ever felt terribly threatened doing it. The big challenge was NOT to respond to the particularly stupid ones.

I think I was in a LOT more danger working the information booth for NARAL back in the 80's. THAT got ugly, and we were there to engage people on the issue--so you can imagine how that went down. We tried to be polite first, then we'd get direct...

I only had one time that I ever felt afraid of what might happen. Some guy came up to our booth and started out with "You F*&%ing dykes should burn in hell for killing your babies. Maybe I'll just help you on your way..."

I was standing there just looking at this wackaloon guy with my mouth hanging open. The other woman in the booth with me that day was a ROTC gal, and she was BUFF and chock full of attitude. She walked across the booth, leaned over the table almost nose to nose with that guy and told him he was welcome to try...

About that time, few other folks came walking up and the guy left.

I put up with a lot of verbal abuse and I stayed in the fight for a long time after that, but I finally got to the point that I realized that I was never gonna make a change in anybody's attitude by working an info booth.

I'd say clinic escort is probably one of the most worthwhile things you can do. Support the women who need it and let the idjits go on their merry way.


Laura