81 Members of Clergy Arrested at Abortion Protest

Scores of clergy members helped block the entrance to an abortion clinic Saturday before being arrested with other abortion protesters.

Police arrested 321 demonstrators, including 81 of the clergy members, on charges of trespassing during the protest at Wichita Family Planning Inc.

About 500 people took part in the protest, police said. Many of the demonstrators sat in the driveway alongside the clinic and others picketed on the sidewalk and in parking lots.

The anti-abortion group Operation Rescue began sponsoring protests at three abortion clinics in Wichita on July 15. Since July 22, there have been more than 1,800 arrests, police said.

Most of the clergy members protesting Saturday were from Roman Catholic or Evangelical churches, said Jim Bell, executive director of Inter-Faith Ministries, an umbrella group for religious organizations in Wichita.

Bishop Eugene Gerber of the Roman Catholic diocese of Wichita was among those who sang hymns and prayed at the back entrance to the clinic. He was not arrested.

“What I’m trying to make clear is that I’m in solidarity with the intent of what they’re doing,” Gerber said.

About 80 abortion rights supporters held a rally across the street, carrying signs that said “America Stands for Choice.”

Tom Brown, the owner of a bar near the clinic, said he has been losing business because of the demonstrations. Protesters hand out anti-abortion literature to his customers, he said.

“I tell these people, ‘My customers are here to eat and drink. They are not here to have abortions. I don’t do abortions,’ ” Brown said.