It was five years ago that I had to walk through the protest lines.

Of course it had to be in November, during election season. When I arrived at the clinic, (with a good friend for support) I had no idea what we would have to endure just to get into the front door. My head was already spinning that morning, knowing what I was about to do - I was going to have an abortion.

As I got out of my car, all I could see were the winding lines of people holding signs and crosses as if they were holding pitchforks. "Murderer!", I heard over a bullhorn. They shoved baby dolls in my face and called me hideous names like whore, baby killer, and satan. The experience was horrific and I hadn't even made it the clinic entrance. In my eyes, this was no peaceful assembly. A small riot would be a better way to describe it. Those people did not know me, did not know my situation, my story; yet they hated me the way that a rape victim hates their offender. I was offensive to them.

I had only numbing shock to keep me from screaming, running away from it all. I kept walking, my friend held my hand and lead me to the guarded door. I was trembling so furiously when we finally made it into the clinic that I could barely talk to the receptionist about my appointment. The staff was absolutely wonderful and caring. They were warm and seemed to somewhat understand what I was feeling. A very nice nurse took me into a private room and went over every possible option that I had. I knew in my heart what I had to do, what was necessary for my own survival (both physically and emotionally). Pro-abortion is not a term that should be used interchangeably with pro-choice. Though I have personally experienced an abortion, I am not pro-abortion as no one should ever have to make that decision. But we should have the CHOICE over our own bodies, our own reproductive system. I struggle with what I have done every day. It was not easy to end my pregnancy. I will always wonder what the child might have looked and sounded like. But that was MY DECISION and even if it haunts me forever, I alone had to make the choice.

It was by far the worst day of my life. I will never forget the faces, the signs, the shouts and screams. I will always bear the emotional scars of both offenders.

It is the ugliest form of humanity and terrifying to my core.

:wtf:

I have seen the protests around here. In both cases, the clinic is a small free standing building. If they were in a high rise or complex then the protesters couldn't possibly know who was headed for the clinic and who was headed for the gynecologist, or the lawyer, or the pilates class.

Bombs have been set off before; protesters would still convene around the complex, proving a harassment to all workers or residents. Their liability insurance would go through the roof. This is why this kind of action is so effective: it intimidates everyone: from landlords, to doctors, to women. In that sense, the tactic is rightfully called terrorism (take that, Jonathan Turley).

Domestic terrorists toward our reproductive rights. nt

a legal choice.

The war is becoming fresh and with a new administration and justices, Roe V. Wade is a seriously issue. I commend those men and women who stand up and risk their reputations (and lives sometimes) for reproductive rights.

From what I understand, when they built the new facility in Aurora Illinois, they put the parking lot on their private property. The first time protesters assembled in the parking lot, the entire lot full of them were arrested on tresspassing charges. They now have to meet and protest well away from where patients enter the facility.

but they had my friend pull around to the back to pick me up after the procedure. There were no protesters there that I can remember - maybe that part of parking was private.

The only entrance to this clinic is across their private property.

They had to be ultra careful with it, too. They didn't reveal what it was until it was too late to stop the building going up.

abortion clinics also serve as gynecological services. These doctors are not just performing abortions, but they are treating women's health.

:shrug:

I used to think that you could reason with people and they would listen; they might not agree, but they wouldn't harm me. Boy was I under a sickened dilusion.

To have a license to hate, issued by God. Too bad they're all fakes.....

and other medical problems for women and girls.

and normal women's health issues. Stop the birth control.. and their will be more abortions. What 16 yr old wants to walk thru madness like that for a pack of free pills because they don't trust the "family" doctor to keep their business their business. Thank God I lived in VT. I don't remember a protest ever.. and PP was across from the hospital.

:hug:

Oddly enough, that is exactly what I need.:hug:

that spawn these fundy whack-os and encourage them to terrorize people who are minding their own business.

I'm so sorry that you suffered this awful experience. :hug::hug::hug: