Calm Holds as Abortion Protesters Stage Vigils

The day after some of their fellow travelers were sentenced to jail, several hundred San Diego members of the anti-abortion Operation Rescue returned to the streets Saturday, blockading one doctor’s clinic while holding sidewalk protests at two other sites.

But the morning protests were markedly different than past actions taken by the often strident group in that the demonstrators did not invite police to arrest them or to use the controversial nunchakus to force them to leave under the threat of pain.

Nevertheless, the picketers seemed equal in their zeal, encouraged by two of their colleagues who were sentenced on Friday for previous arrests. Frank B. Smith of Oceanside and Nancy Scofield of Poway stood on the corner outside the North Park offices of Dr. Phillip Milgram, offering their prayers and support.

“I’d be in serious trouble if I got hauled off today,” said Smith, 56, who on Friday was sentenced to 65 days in jail for two clinic blockades in April. “I don’t know what my wife would say.

“But ultimately, we’re all going to stand before God and that’s the only time serious trouble comes.”

Convictions Cited

Scofield, 40, also cited her strong religious convictions for the reason she returned to the picket line Saturday, less than 24 hours after she was sentenced to probation, a $300 fine and a two-month suspended jail sentence. She was convicted in an illegal demonstration last July at a San Marcos doctor’s office.

“I’m not breaking the law,” she said, exchanging hugs with many of her fellow Operation Rescue members. “I never intended to. And I will continue not to.”

At each of the other two picket sites Saturday, police reported crowds of about 80 protesters who were met by dozens of pro-choice picketers. The Operation Rescue members, rather than blockading entrances to clinics, simply marched outside the clinics and attempted to counsel patients against going inside.

The two sites chosen were the Planned Parenthood offices on Camino Del Rio South in Mission Valley, and the Family Planning Associates Medical Group on Fletcher Parkway in La Mesa.

Shut for Two Hours

What effect, if any, the Saturday protests had on business at Milgram’s clinic was unclear. His office was effectively shut for about two hours, but patients were being escorted inside within five minutes after the protesters gave up their blockade.

Milgram, who arrived late to the office in the 4300 block of Mississippi Street because he was delivering a baby, vowed not to be intimidated by the protest group.

“I will see all my patients today,” he said, raising his fist to the mixed crowd of protesters, pro-choice advocates, police and press gathered around his clinic’s front porch.

The only confrontation came when Brian Heslin, 40, of San Diego, lunged onto the porch of Milgram’s office and attempted to block the door. Heslin was cited for trespassing and released.

The doctor’s staff members, whenever they helped escort patients in through the crowd outside, were buoyed by applause and hurrahs from the pro-choice picketers across the street.

At times, the noise outside became quite confusing, with Operation Rescue members chanting religious songs and pro-choice advocates singing: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.”

“We intend to stop every action they produce,” said Sallie Taylor, a pro-choice coordinator with North County NOW. “We’ll even try to be ahead of them if we can.”

But many of the Operation Rescue members spoke with a renewed fervor too, saying that the convictions and jail sentences for several of their counterparts this week will only serve to heighten the group’s overall dedication to stopping abortion.

“You’ve heard of the blood of the martyrs?” asked John Gill of El Cajon. “Well, you martyr somebody and people get upset.”