Member-only story
Men! Join Us!
Yesterday (Saturday) Morning I was at a Chicago Abortion Clinic at 6:10 a.m. (early) for my first shift as a Clinic Escort. A man was kneeling on the sidewalk, eyes closed, praying. He had two (religious related) books and a large cross. Though he was silent, and didn’t “do anything”, I immediately felt initial mild anger. The massiveness of the issues — we face — seemed much more real to me!
After a few minutes the shift coordinator and another woman who had trained us for our work arrived and gave a fellow newbie and me our bright pink vests.
Being visibly different and otherwise clearly apart from the protesters was important! Initially mostly staff were arriving in their (largely) purple attire. When a partner or friend dropped them off, they looked connected and calm, and they were happy to see us there, holding the door open for them and greeting them.
The women who had evident male partners looked very different! Some looked afraid. Many looked like they had had sleepless nights. A few looked frustrated or angered with their partners. Many were BIPOC. Most looked young and didn’t look like they had any positive energy to put forth. Some thanked us, and many were obviously relieved that we were there, giving them a path away from the protesters. Others had relatives and friends and some were dropped off alone by Uber’s and Lyft’s near the main front door of the…
