Anti-Abortion Activists Protest in Milwaukee, Chicago, Cape Cod

More than 500 abortion protesters jammed sidewalks outside a women’s clinic, waved photos of dismembered fetuses, sang hymns and shouted Bible verses Saturday. Seventy-seven people were arrested.

Also Saturday, anti-abortion activists staged a peaceful protest outside the National Organization for Women convention in Chicago. A demonstration on Cape Cod in Massachusetts resulted in 28 arrests.

In Milwaukee, more than 500 abortion-rights advocates surrounded the clinic’s entrance and escorted 16 women with appointments inside, while the more than 500 anti-abortion activists protested.

Some of the protesters gathered in groups to pray. Others wept as women entered the Summit Women’s Health Organization clinic.

“It’s anti-God,” said Jim Minnema, 46, an electrician who lives 60 miles north of Milwaukee. “As Christians, we must rescue those going to the slaughter, or we will have to answer for it.”

Some protesters ran across the street in front of the clinic, dropped to the sidewalk and tried to crawl through the legs of police officers guarding entrances.

Police Lt. Vincent Flores said 77 abortion protesters, including 15 children, were arrested, most on disorderly conduct charges.

Hundreds of people on both sides of the issue also gathered in front of three other Milwaukee clinics Saturday, but no incidents were reported. About 1,400 people took part in demonstrations throughout the city, Flores said.

The protests were organized by Missionaries to the Preborn, which has said it plans six weeks of demonstrations in Milwaukee. Police have made more than 400 arrests since the protests began two weeks ago, and some people have been arrested more than once.

Outside the Summit clinic, abortion rights advocates chanted “Milwaukee has spoken, the clinics will stay open!”