The Dollar Story
Three days a week I wake up to at 5:00AM. After getting dressed and lots of coffee I grab my vest and head out on my 20 minute journey into Jackson. That's been my normal routine for eight and a half years now. I volunteer at Jackson Women's Health Organization (AKA: The Pink House) as a clinic patient escort. The Pink House is the last remaining abortion clinic in the state of Mississippi. My name is Derenda Hancock and I am proud to be a co-organizer of the Pink House Defenders.
The Pink House Defenders are often asked why they do this work. Every volunteer has their own reasons. When I started, my answer was pretty typical. I wanted to assure that future generations had the right to bodily autonomy, the right to choose. That statement is still true. But over the years at the clinic, I've met hundreds of people and heard countless stories, many of which were heartbreaking. After so much of that, this became personal for me. There is a lot I could share, but this was what solidified my commitment to doing what I do. I call it: The Dollar Story.
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Appointments at the clinic that morning were at 8:00 AM. Around 8:45 AM an older, beat-up car came flying into the parking lot. We make it a habit to look at tags as well as details of cars due to the history of murders, bombings and vandalism that anti-choice terrorists have perpetrated against abortion providers and clinics. Kim noticed the tag, "Damn...they drove all the way from the Delta." I headed to the car and Kim went into the clinic to see if it was too late to get another patient inside.
Walking up to the car I noticed the back tire was a donut, the bumper was wired on and there were two car seats in back. I approached the car and motioned for the young woman (who I'll be referring to as Tonya) to roll down her window, but she pointed to the other side. I went around and the young man in the driver's seat said "Sorry, her window don't work." "No problem, I'm with the clinic. Do y'all have an appointment?" "Yes, ma’am. It was at 8:00, but we had a flat." "OK. Did y'all call the clinic?" Tonya held up her phone "No ma’am. My phone died and I ain't got my charger." "It's really late, but Kim went inside to see if we can possibly still get y'all in. If not, I'm sorry, but you may have to reschedule." The young man looked panicked. "Please ma’am. I took off work to get here today. I can't afford to do that again. They just gotta see her." Then Tonya spoke "We left early, but it's a long way. We'd have been here on time if we didn't have a flat." I just kept thinking, Dr. S is here, she's really good about working with folks. Oh, please see them today doc...
Kim came up the steps "They said yes but be quick" I smiled, "They said they'd see you, but we need to hurry." "I just need a second ma’am." I walked to the back of the car and waited. After a few minutes, I walked back towards the car door. Tonya was frantically digging through the glove box, in the console, through her purse. Oh, Hell no. Please tell me she didn't forget her ID! I walked to the back of the car again and looked across the parking lot at Kim who was pointing at her watch. I shrugged and went back. "Ma’am, we have to hurry and get you inside now, they are waiting on you to start the counseling." "I'm coming, I promise." About a minute later, she got out.
As we walked toward the door the antis screamed "Don't murder your baby." "What's that cross around your neck? Are you a Christian? The Lord said thou shalt not kill." Tonya glanced their way, her shoulders slouched, and she dropped her head. "Don't worry about them. Just ignore them best you can." Our music was on to drown them out, but it doesn't cover everything.
We were approaching the door when I heard "Ma’am?" I turned, by now a look of frustration on my face. "Yes?" She almost whispered, "Will they take $149?" "Excuse me?" She opened her hands that were clasped together in front of her. There was a stack of bills topped with a mound of coins. "Will they take 149 dollars? I'm a dollar short." I swallowed hard, told myself to hold it together, and put on my best smile. "Absolutely they will honey, but let's just not mess with you having to ask them that OK, hang on." I ran to my purse, grabbed a dollar and put it in her hand. It was the first time I saw her smile. "Thank you so much ma’am." I smiled back, "Come on. Let's get you inside and out of all this noise."
I closed the door behind her, and leaned against it. Heading toward the stairs I looked up at Kim. "Are you alright?" I shook my head no, "I need a minute." She nodded and I walked away from the antis in the driveway to the back of the clinic. The tears running down my face felt like fire and my stomach was in knots. I told myself to stop it...you can't do this. But I couldn't quit.
As the tears finally slowed, my brain went into overdrive. My privilege struck me like a brick. I had stood by her car door, agitated that she hadn't been ready to go...when all of that time she was trying to dig up a damn dollar. They have to drive back to the Delta on that donut, obviously they can't get the tire fixed. I hope they have enough gas to get home. It'll be noon before they leave and they have no money to stop for lunch, or even a Coke. I have a little bit of cash with me, but I don't know how to offer it. After the 24-hour waiting period, they will have to come back for the second visit. There are abortion funds to cover the procedure, but they still have to make it back here. Will they be able to manage that trip again? What's going to happen if they can't?
I grabbed a few bottles of water from the cooler and headed to their car. "She's going to be inside for a while, I thought you might be thirsty." "Thank you, ma’am. I appreciate that." I smiled and he rolled up the window. Unfortunately, he could still hear the antis yelling at him. "Go get your woman out of this place of death. Be a man." I knew who the REAL man was. He was sitting in that car supporting his partner. I took a deep breath and walked back to the sidewalk.
I leaned against the pillar and stared at the antis. They have money, power and they are good at what they do - blocking abortion access. There should be a clinic in the Delta. At one time there were fourteen abortion clinics in Mississippi, and now... there is one. It shouldn't have to be this way.
WHY DO I DO THIS? I do it for "Tonya," I do it for ALL of the "Tonyas.”
#SupportAbortionAccess #SometimesICry #PinkHouseDefenders #WeOutHere #AbortionOnDemandAndWithoutApology
