Anti-Planned Parenthood protesters in Portland, Maine

[teddybear]

It seems that a business owner in Portland, Maine is fed up with protesters blocking the entrance to his store and also their means of getting their message across. He is using Facebook to plan his own protest against the anti's. I wish I were closer and could attend. And he is also giving a free coffee and breakfast sandwich to anyone to takes part in his protest.

http://www.facebook.com/events/440349792685862/

From the Facebook page of Mike's Restaurant:

"Every Friday, rude, loud, self righteous anti-abortion protestors harass young women and passersby with heinous, disgusting posters of aborted fetuses are increasing in number outside our restaurant. Lately, more of them have taken to yelling at women entering the Planned Parenthood office.

Normally we do not get involved in religious or political debate because it is a waste of time, however, these people have become a problem. These protestors bring their young children and USE them to push their views and beliefs, without any regard of local businesses or the long-term mental health of their own children.

Help us on Friday January 4th 2013 by holding a sign, or making a presence against these insane, stupid people and get a FREE COFFEE & BREAKFAST SANDWICH."

So, come one, come all! Tell your friends, tell your family! Let's show what Portland really thinks about this vile vitriol being spewed at young, scared, undeserving fellow neighbors!

Planned Parenthood: Portland Health Center

443 Congress Street 2nd Floor, Portland, Maine 04101

Mike's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mikes-Res ... 0259469369

Restaurant Home Page: http://www.mikesrockdeli.com/

Anyone in or near Portland who can attend? I wish more people would do stuff like this.

[PennySycamore]

If only I did not live in South Carolina. I'd be there if I could. Kudos to Mike for taking the crazies on.

[LadyFriend]

Counter-protesters can really make an enormous difference. I worked as a clinic escort (walking with people/shielding them from protester harassment) quite a bit this past semester. I had several people (primarily loved ones/friends accompanying someone else for an abortion) tell me how comforting it was to have someone standing in opposition to the anti-choice protesters. It warmed my heart and I am convinced that even one voice of support can be incredibly effective at reducing shame/stigma.

Anyway...if anyone can spend even a few hours a year putting a face to the opposition of these anti-choice/anti-sex loudmouths (certainly not limited to abortion rallies), you would be likely making much more of a difference than you know.

[cindyluvs24]

It's about time people started standing up to these idiots. I guarantee most of them don't remember pre-Roe when only women with money or connections could find a doctor to do it . Of course, everyone else had to take their chances with someone to take care of it or go away to a maternity home for unwed girls.

[ThreeCatsAndCounting]

This is AWESOME! As someone who's guarded clinics and escorted patients, I can tell you that an unified front against right-to-existence protesters is one of the best ways to make them back down. I hope someone thinks to bring a video camera (not just cellphone cameras), as the antis really dislike being taped.

[mirele]

This is AWESOME! As someone who's guarded clinics and escorted patients, I can tell you that an unified front against right-to-existence protesters is one of the best ways to make them back down. I hope someone thinks to bring a video camera (not just cellphone cameras), as the antis really dislike being taped.

I dunno, a whole field of cellphone cameras (you know, everyone in front of them having a cellphone camera up and on) can be quite the disincentive to being assholes in front of a women's clinic.

Here's a news story about the whole issue:

http://www.pressherald.com/news/city-lo ... 12-27.html

The protesters state that if they're forced into a buffer zone, they'll just be bigger assholes, bring bigger signs and a 33-foot sign trailer. These people piss me off.

[RosyDaisy]

If only I lived close by, I would definitely take part, but I live thousands of miles away. Heck I would do it without the free coffee and sandwich.

[ThreeCatsAndCounting]

I dunno, a whole field of cellphone cameras (you know, everyone in front of them having a cellphone camera up and on) can be quite the disincentive to being assholes in front of a women's clinic.

(link to article snipped)

The protesters state that if they're forced into a buffer zone, they'll just be bigger assholes, bring bigger signs and a 33-foot sign trailer. These people piss me off.

My point about bringing a videocamera is that it usually can record for longer times than cellphones. When I guarded clinics, there were no physical barriers between us and the antis. On many occasions, there were incidents where one side accused the other of shoving and other physical contact. This sort of thing lessened dramatically when our side brought a camera and started taping.

As I'm sure you know, these fanatics think nothing of getting right into your face. I was told I was going to hell, asked if I were married (none of their business!), if I were a lesbian (wtf does that have to do with being pro-choice??!!), if I were saved and knew Jesus (actually I am a Christian, just not THEIR brand), and had my feet stepped on multiple times. Not to mention being spat on. But the spitting wasn't intentional, thank God.

[ThreeCatsAndCounting]

Oh, and they had those goddamned trailers. At least two, one to drive around and one to park at the curb. :angry-cussing:

[lilwriter85]

Kudos to those counter protesters.

[kiwimusume]

Kudos to those counter protesters.

Kudos indeed, especially to those who walk with the patients on a daily basis. It's really sad that people have to walk this gamut of abuse for something that's none of anybody's damn business. I also remember reading a magazine article about someone who tried using a smaller clinic to try to avoid this fuckery, only to find that it was an anti-choice propaganda organisation that posed as an abortion clinic and then let rip when the women went for a consultation.

I wish I was nearby so I could participate, this makes me so angry.

[Wandering]

The article was very interesting, especially the mentioning of the constitutionality of a buffer zone. The conflicting rights of the protesters to protest and the rights of women to have access to these services without intimidation is something that I feel like is never really brought up. The clinic workers have the right to go into work peacefully everyday and women have the right to access these services-the protestors aren't the only ones with the protection of the Constitution. Also, I really loved how the leader of the anti-choice protestors said "We will start protesting more everyday because they are killing every day" when the clinic only provides abortion services on Fridays. Dumb ass. Anyway kudos to the people going to protest this stupidity that's interfering with people's business. I'm also curious about the experiences of those who said that they were clinic escorts-much props to you all it can't be an easy job!

[cindyluvs24]

I hate, hate, hate these idiots. There is a women's health practice in a medical complex here in the suburbs. My periodontist and dentist are also in that complex. The protesters are there on Thursdays and it is such a pain in the ass to walk thru them to get to the other offices. I have been screamed at and then, when I tell them I'm going to Dr. X the periodontist, I get "Oh, all right dear. God bless you." One time I answered, "And God bless you for thinking that I'm still young enuf to get knocked up." The escorts liked that one, the protesters, not so much.

[FaustianSlip]

I can't stand the anti-choice protesters. I once saw a YouTube video where a husband had gone with his wife to get an abortion; they were seeking the abortion because although the child was very much wanted, it had died in the womb. After the husband walked his wife to their car, he got back out and went over to the protestors with a video camera or camera phone running and just ripped them a collective new asshole. Tore them apart- told them why he and his wife were there, asked them how it felt, making a family who was already going through a horrible trauma feel even worse, et cetera. Of course, the protester doing most of the talking did a 180 and was all, "Oh, we're so sorry for your loss, blah, blah," but the husband just ripped into him some more and then left. Then there was the video where some pro-choice protesters went around to the anti-choice people asking them whether they thought abortions should be outlawed and, if so, what kind of punishment they felt would be appropriate for women who still had abortions, in violation of the law. Not one person could formulate a coherent response. No one. Several actually admitted that they'd never even thought about it. Idiots.

I wish I were back in Maine so I could go to this- I'd be there with bells on. As it is, I'll make a point to dine at Mike's when I'm back home this summer. The thing is, the protesters do have a right to be there, but don't the business owners in the area have a right to conduct their business unimpeded? And who are these folks that have every Friday morning (and, if they're talking about expanding the protests, even more time than that) to do this? Do they not have jobs? Are the kids not supposed to be in school somewhere? And after incidents like what happened with Doctor Tiller, I think it's completely reasonable for the staff and clients of this Planned Parenthood to be concerned about security issues when the protesters can just come right up to the door if they feel so inclined. The city should work with their legal team and the ACLU and establish a buffer policy. If the protesters want to hire a giant truck, let them. They can pay for the gas, they can make themselves look even crazier than usual, and if that truck is tooling around Portland five days a week, it's not being used somewhere else.

The weird thing is that while there's a large Catholic population in Maine, the state as a whole, especially the Portland area, tends to be relatively liberal, and people are very big on minding your own business and letting people get on with things. I'd be very curious to know how many of these folks are actually local either to Portland or to Maine, though ten to twenty people isn't a lot, so it wouldn't be hard to find that many crazy fundies to protest within the state, probably. And having read this, I'm going to go ahead and donate twenty bucks to Planned Parenthood.

[treemom]

Kudos indeed, especially to those who walk with the patients on a daily basis. It's really sad that people have to walk this gamut of abuse for something that's none of anybody's damn business. I also remember reading a magazine article about someone who tried using a smaller clinic to try to avoid this fuckery, only to find that it was an anti-choice propaganda organisation that posed as an abortion clinic and then let rip when the women went for a consultation.

I wish I was nearby so I could participate, this makes me so angry.

One of the things that was really great about the Kansas clinic is how good the guards were.

[treemom]

I don't understand why they do it. They could be for more effective in reducing abortions in other ways. I have to assume they do it to be more morally superior.

[mirele]

The article was very interesting, especially the mentioning of the constitutionality of a buffer zone. The conflicting rights of the protesters to protest and the rights of women to have access to these services without intimidation is something that I feel like is never really brought up. The clinic workers have the right to go into work peacefully everyday and women have the right to access these services-the protestors aren't the only ones with the protection of the Constitution.

It wasn't until I read the article that I understood what Mike's restaurant was up against--they're in the same building as the clinic. So, in short, these protesters are harming his Friday business--who wants to eat at a restaurant with blown up fetuses outside? (I would, just to spite those fucking asshats.) The protesters simply don't care, all they care about are the baybeeeees, at least until the moment the baybeeeeeee is born. Then, "yer on yer own, kid."

ETA: Wonder if there isn't a way to target the ringleaders and get an order to keep them away from the business because they're acting as a restraint of trade? Just trying to think out loud here...

[Anxious Girl]

I wonder if the pro-birthers will see counter-protesters having their right to counter-protest as being "persecuted" when they're really persecuting women who come in to get abortions. Hypocritical asshats, anybody? Where's Jericho Josh? Isn't he 1 of those who support the fetus's rights over the woman's until it's born?

[Hane]

Something interesting posted on his Facebok page:

You know what the worst part about their fetus pornography is?

The fetuses they collect pictures of were failing wanted pregnancies.

Yep. Abortions that late in the development are generally wanted and tragically lost to a wide variety of medical reasons. Elective abortions are generally done at a much earlier time in the development and look quite a bit different from what the anti-choicers parade around with.

A regular, elective abortion done early looks no different from a heavy period.

The fetuses in those pictures represent and symbolize women who wanted to be mothers, but now have to pack up the baby clothes and tell people that they may not be expecting after all.

Those pro-lifers desecrated those VERY WANTED but UNFORTUNATELY LOST late-term fetuses for a political agenda.

They dug them from the trash and took snuff snapshots of a woman's wanted baby that couldn't make it.

That is what those pictures are of, that is what they make their own children hold up pictures of.

[B5SnowDog]

I don't understand why they do it. They could be for more effective in reducing abortions in other ways. I have to assume they do it to be more morally superior.

I've read that the most effective way to reduce abortions is to offer free contraceptives.

[Coconut Flan]

I had that discussion last night with a fundie-lite. She wants to stop abortion, but at the same time wanted to laud Hobby Lobby for standing up for "their rights."

I reminded her that she is childless by choice and asked how would she feel if she'd worked for Hobby Lobby and had to pay full price for her birth control pills. She had a pretty swift head jerk. I keep telling her she has to think for herself and not parrot the preacher because I'll call her on it.

[treemom]

I've read that the most effective way to reduce abortions is to offer free contraceptives.

Also the most effective way to delay sex :)

[Peas n carrots]

I don't understand why they do it. They could be for more effective in reducing abortions in other ways. I have to assume they do it to be more morally superior.

Same reason why WBC protests - they want attention and want to be martyrs in their own eyes. I really doubt 100% of those folks are here or purely selfless reasons.

Riffles

[wild little fox]

They claim to have empathy for the aborted but I see no empathy in them at all. Actions speak louder than words. They are mean spirited people who get their jollies in being cruel. If they truly cared they would spend their Friday afternoons giving of themselves rather than harassing people who have the right to go about their lives if it be have a termination, go to the dentist, or have lunch.

[Patsy]

I can't stand the anti-choice protesters. I once saw a YouTube video where a husband had gone with his wife to get an abortion; they were seeking the abortion because although the child was very much wanted, it had died in the womb. After the husband walked his wife to their car, he got back out and went over to the protestors with a video camera or camera phone running and just ripped them a collective new asshole. Tore them apart- told them why he and his wife were there, asked them how it felt, making a family who was already going through a horrible trauma feel even worse, et cetera. Of course, the protester doing most of the talking did a 180 and was all, "Oh, we're so sorry for your loss, blah, blah," but the husband just ripped into him some more and then left. Then there was the video where some pro-choice protesters went around to the anti-choice people asking them whether they thought abortions should be outlawed and, if so, what kind of punishment they felt would be appropriate for women who still had abortions, in violation of the law. Not one person could formulate a coherent response. No one. Several actually admitted that they'd never even thought about it. Idiots.

The guy in the first video blogs about it here: http://www.daddyfiles.com/abort-protesters/

It had a fatal condition, and the protesters basically said "then you should have the procedure done at the hospital [so we don't have to take the intellectual responsibility for the moral greys (grey in their mind I mean) our actions necessarily produce]". They'd never actually bothered to find out whether the procedures under those circumstances were done at the hospital, of course. Like the protesters in the second video : never thought about the implications of their actions, still willing to inflict them on the world.