Repro Roundup: Pro-choice demonstrators pepper-sprayed by anti-choice protesters with their own security

Welcome to my column, The Repro Roundup, in which I summarize abortion news happening around the country, why it matters, and what you can do about it — in 250 words or less.

What’s the issue? On Wednesday, the private security guards of anti-choice clinic protesters pepper-sprayed peaceful counterdemonstrators, according to an NBC report. The assault took place outside of a Planned Parenthood, where anti-choice protesters regularly congregate about 25 miles from San Fransisco. According to Lacey Brown, a regular pro-choice counter-demonstrator, said that she had never seen the antis bring their own security before, especially with guns and pepper spray. Brown was among four people who were pepper-sprayed by the security guard, in addition to a freelance photographer. The anti-choice terrorists say the guards were provided by 40 Days for Life, a national organization dedicated to continuously protesting and harassing abortion clinics during the 40 days of Lent and 40 days before big elections.

Why does this matter? Abortion clinics face almost continual violence by anti-abortion bigots. Over the years, ten people have been murdered by such people, not including the dozens of incidents of clinic bombings, threats, hate mail, vandalism, stalking, harassment, and more. Abortion providers, clinic staff, and pro-choice volunteers are heroes who continuously put their lives on the line to protect all people’s access to care and acts of violence such as this escalate, with law enforcement rarely aiding clinics and escorts when antis trespass, break noise ordinances and block access to clinics — which is technically against federal law.

What action can I take?

• Subscribe to my 7-week email series about repro, which includes three relevant topics like clinic defense, clinic violence, and a deep dive into anti-abortion opposition.
• Read a recent Repro Roundup about a man convicted of bombing two clinics and murdering a clinic worker appealing his charges
• Clinic escort with LA For Choice
• Support ACCESS Women’s Health Justice, an abortion fund that provides: advising about medical processes, childcare, financial assistance, lodging, meals, Spanish-speaking services, and travel. There are a TON of ways to volunteer with them.
• Support Women’s Health Specialists — Women in Need Fund, an abortion fund that provides: financial assistance, language interpretation, lodging, practical support, referrals, Spanish-speaking services, transportation, and travel. Read all the ways to get involved with them.
• Donate to the Clinic Vest Project, which provides clinic escorts with free safety vests and identifiers to wear when escorting patients outside of abortion clinics.
• Discover which states have “bubble zone” laws on the books that prevent protesters from coming within a certain distance of a clinic from the Guttmacher Institute.
• Read the 2019 Violence and Disruption Statistics from the National Abortion Federation.
• Read the 2018 Clinic Violence Survey from the Feminist Majority Foundation.
• Read about the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.
• Follow We Engage on social media to see what kinds of harassment clinics take on a daily basis.

• Subscribe to The Repro Queen of DC, my monthly newsletter on abortion access, activism, and writing on the frontlines of DC.
• Subscribe to Repro 101, a seven-week educational email series about all things repro. Topics include the basics of funding abortion, clinic escorting, anti-choice violence, and more.