Protesters peaceful at new abortion clinic
NAPLES (AP) – More than 60 abortion opponents stood peacefully outside of a Planned Parenthood clinic that began offering abortions for the first time Monday.
Abortions have not been available for 13 years in Collier County, a conservative stronghold on Florida’s southwest Gulf Coast. The last private doctor who performed abortions stopped in 1996 when opponents of the procedure demonstrated outside of his practice and home.
“It became clear that no private provider was going to provide services in the county,” said Char Wendel, president and chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood of Collier County. “We wanted to provide the full range of reproductive and sexual health care services.”
The clinic, which has provided reproductive health services in Collier since 1975, will perform abortions one day a week. Monday’s schedule for abortions was full, she said, “reflecting the need in the community.”
Protesters – many from nearby Ave Maria University, a new and conservative Catholic school – arrived at 7 a.m. Others arrived later, carrying signs that said “God Loves Your Baby,” and “We Can Help!” They stood outside of the clinic in 90-degree heat, waving at passing cars and trying to hand flyers to those entering the clinic parking lot.
A dozen police officers and county sheriff’s deputies were on hand; authorities weren’t sure exactly how large the demonstration would become. Some estimated it could grow to 1,000 people or more. As of midday, the protest never swelled to even 100 people.
Wendel said her organization asked its supporters not to rally in front of the clinic Monday to avoid a confrontation.
Eric Scheidler, of the group Pro Life Action League, flew in from Chicago to attend.
“We want to reach out and try to offer an alternative to the women entering the clinic today,” he said.
As he spoke, a woman walked from the parking lot into the clinic. She was shielded from the crowd by a large, brown umbrella, and escorted by two people from the clinic in yellow vests.
A protester standing on the sidewalk yelled, “We want to help you!”