Anti-Choice Zealots Go After Clinic Owner's Children -- Here's How He's Fighting Back

[marmar]

AlterNet / By Sarah Seltzer

Anti-Choice Zealots Go After Clinic Owner's Children -- Here's How He's Fighting Back
When creepy anti-choice activists targeted a clinic owner too close to home, he gathered volunteers to give them a friendly ring back.

September 12, 2011 |


When those who provide health services for women and their families, including young children, get targeted personally by anti-choice activists, how do they make it clear that such behavior is unacceptable without stooping to the level of their opponents?

One clinic landlord in Germantown, Maryland is planning a coordinated response against his harassers. He is taking this measure after anti-choicers picketed him and his children at the kids' school, displaying a huge sign accusing him of being a "baby-killer" in plain view of all the other parents and children on open school night.

Perhaps most disturbingly, the sign carried the landlord's name, phone number and photograph. (For the sake of their privacy, we are not printing his name.) Given the hostile environment and the threat of violence facing abortion providers and those connected to them, this sort of distinguishing personal information can literally be quite threatening if put in the hands of the wrong zealot.

School officials in Maryland were disgusted with the protest. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/story/152374/anti-choice_zealots_go_after_clinic_owner%27s_children_--_here%27s_how_he%27s_fighting_back/

[MADem]

1. Very clever response....

Talk about "What goes around, comes around!"

....His efforts at a friendly personal pushback strike me as brilliant.

How many anti-choicers would still be in the "persuasion" business if they knew the "discussion" would carry on to their own homes, where their families reside? And more importantly, how would they react knowing that there are others on the opposing side who are as gently and firmly devoted as they are?

Some would surely continue, but others might be moved by a dose of sudden empathy for their opponents.

[Historic NY]

2. Please let them know around 3am.

[leveymg]

3. What is he doing other than collecting email addresses and identifying data?

How is that so brilliant? Where's the push-back?

[MountainLaurel]

7. He and others will be contacting them

From another article on the same subject, they will be saying:

"1) The family truly appreciates your prayers.

2) Your opinions and pleas have been heard but

3) Defend Life has unfortunately misinformed you about the 's legal rights regarding their ability to evict or terminate the lease of the clinic."

http://www.alternet.org/story/152374/anti-choice_zealots_go_after_clinic_owner%27s_children_--_here%27s_how_he%27s_fighting_back/?page=2

[LWolf]

4. How is subjecting a child to that kind of harrassment at their school

because you don't like the parent's profession or choices legal?

Shouldn't there be some legal protection for the child and the school?

[msanthrope]

5. There is legal protection for the school...

The school, even a public school, can kee the demonstrators off the property, but can't do much if the protestors are outside and on public lands--

Should the protest happens during school hours, they might be able to do something about noise and harassment.

[LWolf]

9. Of course we can keep them off campus.

That doesn't really stop the damage done when they are standing just off school property, though.

[JoeyT]

6. What about THE CHILDRENZ

doesn't protect them from religious fanatics screaming at them, apparently.

Yeah, it's stupid.

[ellenfl]

8. hm-m-m, might be something to get involved with. eom