saturniinae:

Do you live in Chicago? Are you outgoing and interested in protecting abortion access?

Illinois Choice Action Team will be hosting a clinic escort training on Wednesday, September 19th at 7pm!

I’ve been escorting with ICAT for a year and a half, and in recent months have personally witnessed a surge in anti-choicers at the three clinics where ICAT volunteers.

Tumblr, I really need your help on this one. This is what the anti-choice presence looked like on Abortion Provider Appreciation Day at one of our clinics in March. Imagine having to face this alone. This is why our task as clinic escorts is so important: 

We desperately need more people who can commit to volunteering once a month (or more, please!), and ESPECIALLY Spanish-speakers! I can promise you that it’s an extremely rewarding gig, and you will be volunteering with an incredible group of people. As the election approaches, it’s important that our Chicago clinics are protected from anti-choice harassment. 

If you’d like more info on the training, please please please email ICAT at escorts@ilchoiceactionteam.org with your name. Just mention that you heard about the training through Tumblr, please (given the sensitive nature of this activity, we have to keep track of everyone who emails us). And tell your friends; we would like to train as many people as possible! 

(Note: please keep in mind that clinic escorting is quite different from clinic defense and pro-choice protesting. We pride ourselves on our ability to remain cool and collected in the face of harassment, and our central task is getting patients into their appointments safely and swiftly—NOT engaging with the anti-choicers. For many of us, this isn’t about politics, but a woman’s right to privacy and safety—neither of which she receives if family planning clinics remain besieged.)

Hey Chicagoland followers looking for a volunteer opportunity—get on this!

(via little-sword-deactivated2013040)