Thin Orange Line: The Police Get Involved

[neadods]

This post is probably going to be buried in the post-Who tsunami, but I had to get it off my chest.

Last week there were apparently protesters shipped to the clinic from out of state. Violent, racist ones according to another escort who was there, ones who'd been trying to egg a fight.

But this is the week that things got physical. I've been saying for a while that I was there when Eeyore showed up and I'd be there when she got hauled off in handcuffs. It came perilously close to that today when she charged into the parking lot, targeting a couple of clients.

Nobody got hurt and it seems that nobody's getting sued either. Also on the plus side, two people came up to thank us for the job we do and one of them asked for membership information.

But the quiet clinic is not quiet anymore. And I never expected to use the pen and paper in my car to have to write down a statement while everything was fresh in case it was ever needed legally later.

Comments

[jinxed-wood.livejournal.com]

I haven't commented on this before, but I felt I should drop you a line to tell you that I think what you do is brilliant.

In Ireland, abortion is still illegal, and we have the rather tragic scenario where people are forced to take the boat to England if they find themselves in this situation - and that is considered a concession on the Irish government's behalf. I remember a time when the Garda were made stop women from leaving the country if they were suspected of seeking an abortion abroad. A courtcase, involving a teenaged rape victim, changed that last part, but not much else has changed.

Keep up the good work.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

we have the rather tragic scenario where people are forced to take the boat to England

I've even heard a term for that - I don't remember it precisely, but it happens so often that there's an actual term for it.

I can't even imagine. I really can't. The idea of the police being brought in to *guess* if women were... my brain just goes "spuh." TBH, I'd rather deal with Eeyore than that!

[wendymr.livejournal.com]

Well, I think the police would have had tip-offs, which is - if I recall correctly - how the twelve-year-old rape victim was stopped and arrested. Which, rightly, made most sensible people in Ireland horrified, which is what led to the minor change in the law.

But as far as I know it's still the case that anyone doing pregnancy counselling cannot even mention abortion. They can't discuss pros and cons, so people getting advice don't get to talk about the full range of options - which might even make them decide against an abortion. And advertisements for abortion clinics are banned, which has occasionally led to British magazines and newspapers being seized at ports of entry if that issue happens to be carrying an ad. It's just stupid.

Glad you're okay! And given your comments downthread about what constitutes assault, it really looks as if the protesters have all the rights! Does any of your team carry a camera? Is it possible to video things?

[neadods.livejournal.com]

anyone doing pregnancy counselling cannot even mention abortion. They can't discuss pros and cons, so people getting advice don't get to talk about the full range of options

*long heavy sigh* Yeah, and until recently, our national policy was to enforce that on other nations that took our money for *any* health reasons. It was called the gag order. Obama rescinded it, just as Clinton did, but both Bushes replaced it.

It's known here there are emergency pregnancy services which basically either omit abortion info or do whatever they can to keep women from getting them, up to and including promising abortions under a reduced price and then stringing her along until the legal deadline has passed. In part because of those concerns, there's a HUGE stink right now that Baltimore has passed a law saying that clinics that don't give abortions or references for birth control have to post a sign actually saying so. It has been straight-facedly argued that it's an anti-Catholic policy and unConstitutional. Apparently it's against the Catholic Church's right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion to have to announce that they're against abortion and birth control.

I'll let you just stare at that last sentence for a while. I sure did.

Technically, if they're on the sidewalk, it's illegal to record them. I wouldn't mind a rule that we can start running camera if they come off, but at the time, we were just trying to protect that frightened couple!

[museclio]

One of WACDTF's Virginia clinics has a a "crisis center" next to it. They try and get the women in.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

And we're the ones accused of hunting women down...

[lil-shepherd.livejournal.com]

Because you can get abortions on the NHS, we don't have this kind of picketing here in England - there would be just too many places for the small number of fanatics to picket.

May I also say that I, too, admire all of you Americans, whether paid or unpaid, working under threat at all times.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Y'all are lucky. We're dealing with a few places, a lot of fanatics, and even more people who are willing to whisper in their ears and then say "Who me? Just because I called him Tiller the Baby Killer for years doesn't mean I was suggesting people should shoot him!"

I'm quite shaken. It turned out well today, but she was being egged on and she's not very stable. Sooner or later...

[redpanda13.livejournal.com]

Is it possible for the clinic to get a restraining order, or do they have to wait until she actually assaults someone physically rather than just intimidates them and interferes with their health care?

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I think they're going to have to wait until she's really violent, because by the time the cop showed up, it was a case of the escorts saying "she ran into the lot and we removed her" and the protesters saying that we attacked her.

The thing that gets me is that right now, she may not be in the position that she doesn't care what happens to her as long as she stops people from going into the clinic... but you can see there from here.

[lagilman]

Things are simmering hot, in a bunch of places, and we're going to get another ugly blow, soon. I can only hope it won't involve any innocent lives, on either side.

Does the clinic have a lot-coverage camera, just to do a daily record-and-wipe, installed? If not, any chance of getting a donation from a local supplier/techhead?

(I'd suggest cattle prods for the escorts, me, but there's a reason I don't trust myself to escort.)

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I'd suggest cattle prods for the escorts, me

According to the cop, any form of touching, including standing still and letting her bounce off us (which is how the first person body-checked the initial lunge) constitutes assault *on our part.* Especially if "she ran into me/I was pushed down" is he said/she said without an impartial witness.

I'd sure as hell be willing to spring for a camera to cover the front of the lot!

[museclio]

There is a reason that my mother advised me to always have my hands in my pockets. And I think that officer was incorrect form what I've been told on other occasions.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I usually do, or my thumbs in my belt loop. Now it's something I'm going to have to pay a lot more attention to, although I rather hope that Eeyore has been scared enough not to lunge at people... for a while at least. That woman is gonna blow, and it might be soon.

I'm so used to thinking of myself as just fat, but one of the other escorts said that I look imposing - broad shoulders, etc. So maybe I should just stick my hands in my pockets and just set somewhere.

[museclio]

I tend to do in the pockets because it's more obvious - in the belt loops is still hands visible and available.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

At some point I would like to stand a shift with you and learn from your experience.

[harmonyfb.livejournal.com]

I think the clinic would be well-served to invest in some parking lot cameras.

Been there, done that - it's scary. Thanks for continuing to escort.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I would have liked knowing they were there and recording.

[webqatch.livejournal.com]

Issue there is that not every patient wants their comings and goings to be recorded...

Double-edged swords suck.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I know. It's just that it would be nice to have an impartial source next time we're playing he said/she said with the protesters.

Thin Orange Line: The Police Get Involved

[elasg.livejournal.com]

((((Hugs)))) Those people are nuts. Stay safe and thank you for helping to protect women's rights.

Re: Thin Orange Line: The Police Get Involved

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I had not really realized how far she's willing to go. As I say upthread, she still cares what happens to her. When she doesn't, it's going to get... ugly.

[j00j.livejournal.com]

Ugh. Is there something helpful to do to support clinic escorts, beyond donating funds? I'd like to help but don't feel up to being an escort these days, and might be useful behind the scenes if there's something to be done.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Yes! Most of these escort groups are all volunteer. So they need volunteers to do the usual support things - set up meetings, update email lists, update the website, print flyers, keep an eye on stock of vests and whatever other ID is worn, coordinate with clinics, etc.

In the case of WACDTF, the start is to show up at a training session just to be seen and talk to the organizers, then explain what you want to do. If that's not your local group, then find out who they are and tell them just what you told me.

There is a LOT you can do without ever donning an orange vest.

[museclio]

We had a guy stop and hand our coordinator 40 bucks to get us all breakfast. It was so cool.

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

Just echoing what everyone else said about the great work you're doing, while being infuriated that it's necessary at all.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

It was an extremely unsettling day. But not so unsettling that I'm turning in the orange vest.

[17catherines.livejournal.com]

Sounds terrifying - I'm glad you and people like you are there.

I really need to look at whether there is anything similar in Australia - we certainly don't get the violence you experience, but I suspect we get picketers.

love

Catherine

[museclio]

Yeah - I was there when the Dr. grabbed an anti. Sucks royally. Good on you though.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I heard about that.

What do we do? If we can't touch the protesters, what do we do to protect the patients?

[museclio]

I talk. I blather, I let them listen to me instead of the antis. We stand in the way. It's all we can do.

But yeah - that was a bad day. He went down (again) to argue with them and one of them waved her fliers in his face and her grabbed her. That sucked.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I heard about that. I was there the time he stayed and the door and yelled at 'em for about 5 minutes. Pamphlet Guy was trying to get him to come down.

Based on that and what I saw on Saturday, Pamphlet Guy isn't going to mix it up himself, but if he sees an opening to incite, he'll take it and hope to get someone arrested.

Not sure what standing in the way will do when there's someone trying to literally end run around you. :/ But if that's all we can legally do, then that's what I'll do.

[museclio]

We aren't empowered to prevent someone from trespassing. All we can do is document it and call the police. Sucks.

Yeah - I really feel for the Dr. even though his behavior is crazy making.

The bits I've heard have been ugly. I get the impression that he's form behind the Iron Curtain.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I get the impression that he's from behind the Iron Curtain

The Doctor or Pamphlet Guy?

[webqatch.livejournal.com]

The doc.

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

good grief!
racist? uh...... that sounds really odd.....
i wonder what is going on? any clue where they were shipped in from ? what group?
because all the anti abortion chats i belong to.... well the accusations of racism are all against the abortion providers and Planned Parenthood.. so it sounds really really odd

i am glad no one was hurt, and you REALLY need video cameras...... seriously

as to the sign thing, with the "we dont do abortions" its mostly a case that the "womens health clinics" that ONLY do abortions dont have to post a big sign outside saying "we dont offer any counseling other than for abortions, you can't get any options except abortions" but the counseling centers that DONT do abortions have to now post a big sign saying 'we dont offer abortions" the entire argument i have heard comes down to that.... if they insisted the abortions clinics have a big sign (outside, like they have to) saying "we dont offer non abortion counseling" then it would be fair.....

[neadods.livejournal.com]

racist? uh...... that sounds really odd.....

I'm used to the argument that abortion=genocide, so that's what I expected when she said that. But apparently the people from Ohio were making a big deal about the owners of the clinic being people of color, spinning it as immigrants coming to take jobs and lives.

"we dont offer any counseling other than for abortions, you can't get any options except abortions"

That is not my experience as a past long-term patient at Planned Parenthood or my recent experience escorting hugely pregnant women well after the legal limit for abortion into the clinic.