Vol. 74/No. 30      August 9, 2010

The antiabortion outfit Operation Rescue/Operation Save America (OR/OAS), which was holding a conference in town, announced it would mobilize pickets against the clinic on that day. The National Organization for Women (NOW) and clinic appealed for help.

Family Reproductive Health Clinic staff member Cari Napier explained that antiabortion groups have targeted this particular clinic because it is highly regarded by many doctors and patients who have been treated there.

On July 24, only eight opponents of a woman’s right to choose abortion showed up to protest. OR/OAS instead sent 50 people to picket another clinic whose administration had not requested defense.

The abortion rights picket line at Family Reproductive Health attracted a number of young women and men. Two college students said that it was the first time either had taken part in any kind of protest.

At the end of the morning, clinic staff member Kenya Mauldin came out to speak to supporters. “This is the first [Saturday] in eight years that we have not had problems with harassment of patients and staff,” she said.

Mauldin told the Militant that the right-wingers built scaffolding so they can peer over the fence. “They are allowed to block the driveway and yell ‘whores,’ ‘fat,’ ‘crackhead,’ at patients and family,” she said. At times the clinic has had to organize to escort patients from their cars to the clinic entrance.

Activists from several organizations participated in defending the clinic, including Charlotte NOW, Feminist Majority, Georgia Socialist Workers Party, and The World Can’t Wait.

Jacob Perasso contributed to this article.  
 
 
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