so shaken up from Planned Parenthood- hugs needed

[whitewolf]

This will be long because I am really, really upset about how nasty things turned with the protestors.



It was mainly 2 guys among the 20 or so protestors. Guy 1 kept saying that God loves us and loves the babies and kept pleading with us not to bring women in, how dare we encourage brutal murder and dismemberment. I was ready to just roll my eyes until he started likening me and my partner to Nazis devaluing Jews' lives the way we were devaluing babies. He gave the patients the same lecture.


One lol-worthy moment was a lady lost it, called them insensitive bastards, told them to walk a mile in someone's shoes, and then lifted up her shirt to expose her stomach and jiggled it back and forth. wtf?


They tried to sing "Ave Maria" in Latin and didn't know the fuckings words. Even I know the words. They switched instead to "Silent Night."


Guy 2 was a fucking lunatic. He started with ABSURDLY INCORRECT stuff, like how at 20 days a fetus has a heartbeat and brainwaves. He said that 20 years ago (lol, I'm 35, dude), what if my mother had aborted me. But then he just unleashed an hour-long stream of horrible shit. He called my partner worse than a terrorist, that not even our military kill children, that we kill American babies (would killing the foreign ones be ok?) He told me someday I would be pregnant and feel a baby inside (lol, too late), and then he changed his mind and said that God would never let me have children for the many I had taken inside to kill. He said we get paid and collect a check for every patient we get inside, but we won't need money in hell. He said that we wear vests that say Volunteer but we're liars, the both of us, liars, liars, liars. He demanded we go get him a volunteer vest like ours because we volunteer for killing babies but he wants to volunteer for saving them. He told us to go get jobs (derp, I'm a teacher and my partner is a professor). He said "not even Muslims" kill babies and we're worse than them.



The patients got a lot of this, too-- but there weren't THAT many patients, so they just turned all the vitriol on us because we were right there the whole time. They singled out black patients and said they were committing genocide. They singled out a man outside smoking and mocked him for relaxing with cigarettes while his baby was being murdered.


Then he and Guy 1 were taking pictures of us and of patients. I believe they were also videotaping (illegal), but I couldn't be sure it was video and not still pictures. But even so-- why the fuck are they allowed to take pictures of us? The patients were livid about that, and I felt pretty uncomfortable and skeeved out because I don't know what the fuck they're going to do with pictures of me. And why the FUCK is it legal to take pictures of people on private property, let alone when it's a medical facility?


He told us, "I'm leaving now, but I'll be back. I'll remember you volunteers of death and be back for you."



Taken as a whole, it was awful. I felt so humiliated, helpless, and powerless because all I could do was stand there. I wanted to scream back that his information was incorrect; I wanted to scream back that not one of those loud-mouthed motherfuckers is as "pro-life" as I am, given that I spent an entire pregnancy on bedrest and almost bled out twice, and yet my kid is 4 now. I wanted to scream in outrage at all the vitriol and could only just stand there in silence. It was all so ugly and unrelenting, and I was entirely powerless to make it stop. And then I felt even worse because I'm not a patient, only a volunteer, so I couldn't imagine the horror they were feeling. Then I felt this terrible guilt that I couldn't speak up and defend them... and so much self-disgust that I felt so intimidated and upset-- I thought I was stronger than that.

[YellowRose]

I'm a lurker, mostly, but I read this and didn't want to just leave it.

I'm sorry that you were subjected to their hate and continuous barrage. Thank you, for doing what you do to help the women who need your help.

It take a lot of courage to listen to the unrelenting hatred, and the personal attacks. You are a brave woman, and I hope that your guilt doesn't last long. I think you have nothing to feel guilty about. You are doing a wonderful thing for the patients.

[pixy0stix]

In no way, shape or form did you do NOTHING. You were THERE, and you stood there and didn't leave. You infuriated them by standing there and bearing silent witness to your cause. You were STRONG, and you did what needed to be done.

You, m'dear, are a hero. Don't you EVER forget that.

[druidp]

HUGE hugs and I'm so sorry the dregs of humanity seem to have been in your area today. You are so brave to be there to support the people you are there for, and just know the words are all they have.

I hate that they're taking pictures of all of you, though I'm not sure there is any legal recourse against it.

[Melissa W.]

I have no words for those "men"

[bugandbibs]

Jun 13, 2012 14:29:27 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

In no way, shape or form did you do NOTHING. You were THERE, and you stood there and didn't leave. You infuriated them by standing there and bearing silent witness to your cause. You were STRONG, and you did what needed to be done.

You, m'dear, are a hero. Don't you EVER forget that.

Pixy is wise. You should listen to her.

[hubes]

I'm so sorry. Just so sorry. I agree with pixy. You are a hero, and they were terribly wrong.

[debatethis]

I just want to give you a big ol' hug and remind you that what you are doing is a selfless, loving service for those women who need it most. Thank you.

[Deleted]

Jun 13, 2012 14:29:27 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

In no way, shape or form did you do NOTHING. You were THERE, and you stood there and didn't leave. You infuriated them by standing there and bearing silent witness to your cause. You were STRONG, and you did what needed to be done.

You, m'dear, are a hero. Don't you EVER forget that.

:Y: This many times over. You did something. Imagine if the patients had to deal with that kind of hatred all by themselves.

[pixy0stix]

Jun 13, 2012 14:30:34 GMT -5 @majorwife said:

The picture thing creeps me out. I would call someone (the attorney general?) and ask if that is legal. Then if you see him again, call the police.

It actually is legal. It's one of the squicky things about photography. There are very few things that are protected legally from photographs.

[charminglife]

You are AWESOME for helping these women. Don't forget that.

[ladybrettashley]

They probably wanted you to engage, but keeping silent angered them more than anything you could have said to them. Good for you. Nothing you could have said would change their minds, so maybe you'll just make them bored. I hope they don't show up again.

[whitewolf]

Your words are so kind. So very kind. I'm a'crying.
It's stupid to be so upset when I don't share their beliefs about the punishment coming to me. It's just all the other stuff they said that was personal combined with the pictures and my concern for the patients.

[msmerymac]

Jun 13, 2012 14:29:27 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

In no way, shape or form did you do NOTHING. You were THERE, and you stood there and didn't leave. You infuriated them by standing there and bearing silent witness to your cause. You were STRONG, and you did what needed to be done.

You, m'dear, are a hero. Don't you EVER forget that.

This. Imagine if the women had to be there alone. They had you!


As far as the picture thing goes, I think in general, if you are outside, even on private property, it's not general illegal. If they were using a telephoto lens to take a picture of you in your second floor bedroom, that's invasion of privacy, or so said my intro to journalism class. BUT this might vary by state, so I'd double check if I were you.

[summer]

Jun 13, 2012 14:28:07 GMT -5 YellowRose said:

I'm a lurker, mostly, but I read this and didn't want to just leave it.

I'm sorry that you were subjected to their hate and continuous barrage. Thank you, for doing what you do to help the women who need your help.

It take a lot of courage to listen to the unrelenting hatred, and the personal attacks. You are a brave woman, and I hope that your guilt doesn't last long. I think you have nothing to feel guilty about. You are doing a wonderful thing for the patients.

This. Hugs to you.

[emilyj]

You are amazing for what you do. Amazing. Don't ever forget that. I admire you for the strength you have to do this job.

The women at the clinic are lucky to have you standing there for them.

Those men are horrible assholes. I'm sorry you had to stand there and listen to their nonsense, but you have nothing to feel guilty over.

[pixy0stix]

Jun 13, 2012 14:42:27 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

Jun 13, 2012 14:35:57 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

It actually is legal. It's one of the squicky things about photography. There are very few things that are protected legally from photographs.

Right but it's illegal to intentionally make someone feel afraid or feel threatened for their safety or life which the photos in combination with the comments were obviously intended to do.

Agreed, but the act of taking pictures itself is not something that you can do anything about.

[dev22]

BIg huge hugs. You are amazing for being there for the patients. You being there, and not running off, is the best way to say a giant FUCK YOU to those sorry excuses for human beings.

[whitewolf]

Your words are kind beyond what I deserve.
One more thing they did was they sprinkled holy water along the driveway / street meeting. The Fed Ex guy called inside because he was hesitant to drive over it because he didn't know what it was.

[jlt19]

I'm sorry you had to go through that. On a much lesser level, I went through the same thing protesting a Petland and it really got to me. I haven't been able to go back:( I hope you are stronger than I am because you're doing such a great thing for these women.

[copzgirl1171]

Pixy's OP with a huge dose of *hugs*

You are so strong, and it must be comforting to so many.

[whitewolf]

Jun 13, 2012 14:49:07 GMT -5 jlt19 said:

I'm sorry you had to go through that. On a much lesser level, I went through the same thing protesting a Petland and it really got to me. I haven't been able to go back:( I hope you are stronger than I am because you're doing such a great thing for these women.

lol, I'm on every Wednesday for the summer, and this Saturday because they really needed someone (Fathers' Day and Mothers' Day weekends apparently bring them out to shame people for choosing not to be mothers and fathers.) I'll be back.

[brookles]

Whitewolf, what you do is amazing, and those dudes are chodey douchebags.

[pixy0stix]

Jun 13, 2012 14:47:42 GMT -5 whitewolf said:

The Fed Ex guy called inside because he was hesitant to drive over it because he didn't know what it was.

Ok, this made me laugh.

[noonecareswhoiam]

Thank you for supporting these women (and men) in a time of vulnerability. It can't be easy.

I don't know how logistically possible this would be, but have you thought about using an umbrella to obscure patients' faces and help protect their privacy if people are taking photographs in the future? I realize that this could give the impression that they're doing something shameful that should be hidden, but the desire to maintain privacy may be stronger.

[eclaires]

Jun 13, 2012 15:05:22 GMT -5 brookles said:

Whitewolf, what you do is amazing, and those dudes are chodey douchebags.

Maybe even chodier than Brett Favre! Okay, they definitely are.

Anyway, you are awesome for doing this, and I'm sorry you had to deal with a bunch of assholes.

[PinkSquirrel]

Rule number one of abortion work ... ignore the crazy and definitely don't poke it.

I've been videotaped before, they mainly use it as a tactic to scare and intimidate. I never found the video online. They can do it because you're out in public and they can see you from public property. Sucks I know, but I wouldn't worry to much about it. Just try to ignore them and help the families into the clinic

[whitewolf]

Jun 13, 2012 15:12:53 GMT -5 noonecareswhoiam said:

Thank you for supporting these women (and men) in a time of vulnerability. It can't be easy.

I don't know how logistically possible this would be, but have you thought about using an umbrella to obscure patients' faces and help protect their privacy if people are taking photographs in the future? I realize that this could give the impression that they're doing something shameful that should be hidden, but the desire to maintain privacy may be stronger.

I did that today, actually! They mocked me and said I was doing it to hide my shame. ^o)

[whitewolf]

Jun 13, 2012 15:21:55 GMT -5 PinkSquirrel said:

I've been videotaped before, they mainly use it as a tactic to scare and intimidate. I never found the video online.

Thank you for this.

[DorkFish]

I'm a lurker, but wanted to say you're awesome for doing this. I don't know that I'd have the strength to listen to that garbage and not react. Thank you for being there for those women. I'm sure you were more helpful to them than you know. *hugs*