Today, March 10th 2011, marks the anniversary of Dr. David Gunn, the first abortion provider to be murdered for the work he did. Many other have faced the same brutal fate since. Others have been injured in attempted murders and bombings. When abortion providers and clinic workers are lucky enough to not be harmed, many still face threats and protests at work and even at their homes.
I wanted to bring a batch of fresh baked muffins this morning to the clinic nearest me (I make a delicious bran muffin), but I realized that they probably wouldn’t be eaten. Of course my intentions are good, but what was there to keep an anti-choicer from baking muffins, poisoning them, and then posing to give a gift to the clinic. Yes, this is unlikely and yes, maybe if you worked at any off ice and a stranger came in with baked goods you would be wary, but clinic workers have to take these kind of potential threats very seriously. It is ironic that the whole reason I want to bring the muffins was the same reason I couldn’t.
We can’t even publicly thank all providers, since many are just OB/GYNs that do not publicize that they provide abortions for their patients. These doctors could be in danger if their community learned that they provide abortions. And unfortunately, many bills, like one up for debate in my old homestate Maryland, seek to “out” these providers.
Beyond being aware of potential threats to themselves and their patients, clinic workers also have to face constant shaming about what they do. If not from the protesters outside their clinic, they hear it from websites, blog comments, and conservative news outlets. No matter how much you believe in what you do, I am sure being called a baby-killer, murderer, or being told you’re going to Hell takes its toll on you. At least it does if you never hear someone call you a hero, a brave champion, or say thanks for what you do. Most clinic workers do hear this appreciation from their patients, and that is why they continue to do what they do.
I want to thank abortion providers and clinic workers because without them, the right to choose would be meaningless. If I can choose to have an abortion but cannot get one, it isn’t really an option. The more providers there are, the more options women have for safe, affordable, accessible abortions. As a young woman of reproductive age, that is the world I want to live in.
So thank you clinic workers, for making a world I want to live in.
Read other statements from Trust Women PAC, Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health, Catholics for Choice
Read stories from clinic workers at IamDrTiller.com, or read or write Thank Yous to providers at www.prochoicethankyous.com
You can follow the tweeting on the issue with #NDAAP, but know that is it about 50% thanks and 50% anti-choice harassment.
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