Why I Help Escort Women To The Doors Of Kentucky’s Last Abortion Clinic | Aclu

I sometimes feel intimidated. Looking to the coming week of protests, what's been going on? I'm good at talking with clients and walking with them.

We were aware that OSA was in town and that it was going to be a big day. Your pockets must be completely empty before the scan. They see our clinic as low-hanging fruit in their mission to create a state with no clinics. I started escorting in 1999 with a group of friends because I had learned that the protests were taking place and that the escorts were a thing. Containers; 1 quart-sized, clear, zip-top bag taken out of carry-on luggage and placed in bin; 1 per passenger. Is there anything else you want to add? And there's no onsite parking for the clients, so they have to park either at a street meter or in a parking garage nearby. However, I did walk up to it with a client. Those are the best ways to support us. Ts escort in louisville kyle. It was the day before Mother's Day. Empty your top and bottom pockets of all small items, then put everything into the tray provided. The clinic lets people know that there are protesters and escorts.

We have photos of all of the above, including protesters doing things like pressing signs into the faces of the escorts as the escort practices non-engagement. So the day in the spring when the protesters were arrested, can you talk about what you remember from that? We do have ways around that, and we'll give options, like we'll offer to sit in cars with the kids. The group has targeted EMW, whom the ACLU represents, before. Always follow the security member's instructions. Come join our team of real estate and facilities experts helping our clients navigate 21st century real estate and facilities operations challenges. They talk about things like focusing on de-escalation, not making assumptions. Over the last 12 months, 2, 658 patients opted to complete a survey moments after walking past the protesters.

Can you describe their tactics? We always ask for consent from our clients every time. And then we hang around, the clinic opens at 8, so we have some downtime, during which time the protesters take advantage of the fact that we are a captive audience for them, and that's when there's plenty of preaching, or they try to goad us into a debate, especially if they notice new escorts or they are new protesters. We have clients that run their mouths to the protesters the entire time, which is their right as well. Since the restraining order only applies to OSA leaders and associates, the protests will continue. Sometimes people line up along the property line to hold space to allow people to pass from the sidewalk to the private property without being obstructed. It was one of their leadership convenings, so I already had an idea of how nasty they and their tactics are.

I do not tend to station myself near the door. We are running a fundraiser right now called "pledge a picketer" where people can fill out a Google form and pledge to give a certain amount either per protester or per arrest. We've seen as many as 500 protesters on that holiday. Security Checkpoint Hours are: 4:30 a. m. – 9:00 p. daily. If anything it helps me practice de-escalation for myself because that's one of the skills that we have to practice outwardly. So I was not near the area when the sit-in happened. There are people that are much, much bigger than me that use their bodies and that can be really scary. We never make assumptions, and we focus a lot on consent from the clients and their companions.

If people want to support us, the fundraiser is the best way as well as just reading and sharing our blog blog, which features our three-part series, "Where Would They Go? The ACLU caught up with Meg Stern, one of the Louisville Clinic Escorts, earlier this week to talk about her work. No one likes going through security – we get it. Abortion protesters have the First Amendment right to protest outside a clinic on public property, but they do not have the right to interfere with anyone's access to the clinic. Wearing socks are a good idea when needing to remove shoes, for hygiene and warmth; and speaking of shoes, slip-ons such as ballet flats or loafers for men will make things move more quickly. Matt Bevin is interested in trying to close this clinic as well. In May, 10 of its members were arrested when they linked hands to block the entrance of the clinic and refused to move when asked to do so by law enforcement.

If you can skip wearing a belt, then do so – this will speed up things as well. They have no option but to walk up the public sidewalk through a literal gauntlet, occasionally it looks more like an obstacle course, of people with signs. I was the only escort with this individual, and she was nervous. Nearly half of them said they felt scared, threatened, or unsafe, and more than a third of the respondents considered confronting the protesters. How many escorts do you think you'll use throughout the week? We're doing a little bit more intensive points of unity and practice reinforcement than usual. There have been a number of things that have affected what's gone on on the sidewalk. So we start to arrive close to 7 a. m., sometimes a little bit earlier if we're expecting a big crowd.

When clients are setting up appointments with the clinic, are they usually familiar with the number of protesters outside or is that something that they discover when they arrive at the clinic? It's all about asking consent, providing options, letting the client make the decision that feels best for them. It is nice that people are starting to pay attention to what has been going on and how it's been getting worse. We sometimes find that to be the path of least resistance. And do you typically get consent or do some people say no? Patients described being blocked, intimidated, touched, and shoved. In general, we've seen an increase in attendance at this clinic because it's the only one. At the time, it was a very small group of folks, and I wanted to show up and do what I could because I didn't think that that type of harassment was an okay thing for people to have to endure.

Please remove your laptop, tablet and other electronic device from your hand baggage and place them into a separate tray if requested to do so by a security officer. Their help is an invaluable part of the center's fight to stay open and protect essential services for the women of Kentucky. They don't go really deeply into what it's going to look like because they have so much other information that they're having to deliver about the medical care. Prepare to breeze through security by making sure you have the essentials checked off on our list of dos and don'ts. Our global organization delivers total life-cycle solutions that integrate technology, buildings, and people to solve some of today's most complex challenges for building owners, occupants and stakeholders. Our regular protesters use big signs that are 2 feet wide and 4 feet tall, and they use those to create blockades or raise them up in the air and take up a lot of visual space. They also set up a baby coffin on the sidewalk. She is a Louisville native and works for the Kentucky Health Justice Network. Here are a few things to remember before going through the scanner: Remember the 3-1-1 Rule: 3 oz.

There to assist patients of the center will be the Louisville Clinic Escorts, a group of volunteers who accompany women to the doors of the clinic, often in the face of insults and shouting. Or they can make a flat contribution that benefits our legal defense fund. Beginning this weekend, the anti-abortion group Operation Save America will descend on Louisville, Kentucky, in an attempt to shut down the last abortion clinic in the state, EMW Women's Surgical Center. Here are a few quick tips to make it through security a little quicker: Put valuables like jewelry and keys in the pockets of your jacket before you put your jacket through the X-ray – then you can redress at your gate instead on the other side of the checkpoint. Some people station themselves at a corner or at a parking lot. Containers larger than 3 oz. We get messages from people either asking questions before they accompany someone in or thanking us for being there. Sometimes that can turn into aggression. Often there are small children playing in the middle of the sidewalk.

Can you summarize what you tell volunteers about how to interact with both protesters and clients? Operation Save America had a 12-foot wide sign that 3 people had to hold, and it had swastikas and lynching pictures on it. Are there any particularly strong reactions from clients that stick out in your memory? OSA planned to stage a week of protests in front of EMW, starting tomorrow, with the goal of shutting the center down. To, just based on body language, "If you want to grab my arm, you may. " I have years and years of experience, and also training, so I'm not going to act on that anger in any way. On an average Saturday, we will see between 50 and 70 protesters, somewhere around 20 or 25 escorts, and the number of clients varies, but usually between 15 to 25.

Sometimes people have to bring their kids with them, and those are particularly hard walks because the protesters get really vicious in those situations. How has escorting changed over the years? Can you talk about how you feel when you see the protesters? Clinic Escorts' volunteers have also received special training. I escort on Saturdays for the most part. Sometimes they change their minds pretty quickly. We can't wait to meet you! Honestly, they make me angry.

So, fear, on occasion, but that's not the prominent feeling that I have. And that includes, "Do you want me to walk with you? " Will not be permitted in carry-on luggage. Yeah, some people say no. I'm not so good at being around a bunch of bullies.