Engagement is everything, especially now. Since the escalation of anti-abortion extremist activity in the past few years, and the seating of Amy Barrett on the Supreme Court, we really have to “escalate” our own pro-choice engagement. In the comments of our last post, and so often in others, we hear “what can we do”?

Engagement looks like a lot of things. As many different places, as many different communities, as many different people as there are, there are different ways to engage and make a difference in the conversations around abortion and abortion access.

Located in Toledo, OH, Capital Care Clinic Escorts show up and show the way. This amazing team of escorts started a Facebook page a couple of years ago to show people what happens outside their clinic, and in doing so, they had antis show up on their page to troll, and just be their “anti” selves.

By being public in this way, the Capital Care Clinic Escorts make a statement through being public and saying abortion shouldn’t be a secret, and there shouldn’t be any stigma to abortion access. If there is a stigma, it should be on the antis and their behavior at clinics. Through the page, the escort team was able to engage with their community and build support in the community.

And their community is able to see the antis and what they do at the clinic as well. The community can see the things antis say online, and are able to engage with them online. On the page, the escorts educate the community, correcting myths and misinformation that have spread due to false anti messaging being so common.

Capital Care Clinic Escorts don’t engage with antis at the clinic on days that patients are present. However, they do engage with them through the Facebook page and by counter-protesting anti-abortion events, such as the bi-annual 40 Days for Life and the local Catholic diocese’s anti-abortion Eucharistic Procession parade.

Last year, to counter-protest the Eucharistic Procession that is held in front of their clinic, Capital Care Clinic Escorts held a “counter-protest” bake sale and raised $1600 for their local abortion fund, the The Agnes Reynolds Jackson Fund.

This year’s bake sale on October 24th was a drive-up sale due to COVID-19 concerns. However, the counter-protest was an even bigger success, raising almost $4000 for the “Aggie” Fund. The community responded and attended, letting the antis know that there is vocal and present pro-choice support in the community for the clinic, for patients, for the right to safe and legal abortion.

Here is a link to a short video clip of the counter protest of the parade: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=698334247443137

Wherever you are, you can do something. Even if you are in a small town, there are conversations to be had, posts to be shared, myths to be busted. Donate to those that are making things happen.

Your engagement is everything. Start where you are. Your engagement matters. Do what you can. Changing the conversation starts with each of us.

Thank you Capital Care Clinic Escorts for being awesome in your community and helping your patients every day!

Photo Credits: Ralph Orr