The Empty Sidewalk

Brianne Bilyeu,

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I showed up for clinic escorting last Wednesday in Minneapolis. It was me and one other escort.

And that was it.

No protesters. No gruesome signs.

No pamphlets stuck under the windshields of patients who don’t want them.

No little plastic fetuses. No shouting.

No shaming. No tears.

I held the door open for some patients going to the dialysis clinic that is in the same building.

I smiled and hummed a lot.

I could deal with this.

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The Empty Sidewalk

About the author

Thoughts from a Minneapolis-based nerdy, liberal, humanist progressive on topics such as science, skepticism, religion, atheism, critical thought, politics, and local and global humanitarian and equality efforts. Biodork <3's geek culture, groan-inducing puns, world travel, cultural exchange and sharing and listening to stories.
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3,065 thoughts on “The Empty Sidewalk”

  2. NateHevens
    Reply
    2

    Are there any online resources for finding clinics that need escorts in my area? I did it in Georgia a couple times, both times were very exciting, and not in the good way. The second time actually got a little violent.

    I want to do it again, but I’m not sure it’s so needed down here in South Florida (Boca Raton).

    1. Brianne Bilyeu
      Reply
      2.1

      If a basic internet search for clinic escorting opportunities doesn’t reveal anything, my next move would be to find out where the abortion clinics in your area are located and start calling to see if they can provide information about how you might get involved. Also consider if you have any interest in helping the clinics and patients in other ways – filing, greeting patients, stuffing envelopes, creating mailers, phone banking, etc. There are many options for supporting reproductive rights – find out what help is needed and decide if you want to wade in!

  3. StevoR : Free West Papua, free Tibet, let the Chagossians return!
    Reply
    3

    Great to hear.

    But I do wonder why?

    Have the Coathanger lobby finally given up, seen sense, learnt compassion and decided to end their appalling tactics and / or better yet their whole idea of controlling women’s bodies and forcing them to give birth to unwanted kids or – quite literally – die trying?

    Or is this more likely a once off “holiday” for the anti-choicers occurring because .. why? Any ideas?

    1. Daniel Martin
      Reply
      3.1

      Or is this more likely a once off “holiday” for the anti-choicers occurring because .. why? Any ideas?

      That’s sarcasm, right?

      In case you honestly didn’t know why Wednesday, February 13, 2013 things might be a little bit different among a group largely composed (I’m assuming here) of Roman Catholics, I’ll give you a hint: it was the day after Mardi Gras. Why is Mardi Gras celebrated on that particular day? Go on, I’m sure Wikipedia will tell you…

      Given the rather dramatic effect (not just low turnout but no turnout at all), I wonder if what’s going on psychologically among the protestors is that they’re protesting out of a sense of religious obligation and not out of a direct desire to protest or necessarily out of a desire to get their hate on against women they can feel superior about. I mean sure, rage and righteous condescension is a powerful drug and I don’t doubt that repeated protests can turn people who initially show up out of obligation into outrage addicts, but on that particular Wednesday the Roman Catholics of the protestors will have gone to church in the morning already. I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess that the last Friday in March this year will also be a low-protest day. Earlier that week it’s likely to be worse than normal because all the schools will be closed for spring break, so you’ll have high schoolers joining the protests.

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