37 Anti-Abortion Protesters Arrested at Sunnyvale Clinic

Thirty-seven anti-abortion protesters were arrested Monday outside the Blossom Valley Planned Parenthood clinic in San Jose as Operation Rescue continued its campaign against abortion, authorities said.

The 37 demonstrators, including nine juveniles, were charged with trespassing. They were “peaceful and cooperative” during the arrests, said San Jose police spokeswoman Jaclin Cordes.

Police at the clinic ordered the demonstrators to disperse. When they did not, the arrests were made about 4:45 p.m., Cordes said.

About 30 anti-abortion demonstrators remained on the scene Monday evening. About 12 abortion rights volunteers were helping patients enter and leave the facility.

Michele McDevitt, director of communications for Planned Parenthood, said the arrests occurred when demonstrators stormed the clinic’s main doors. She said the clinic was holding a drop-in day for teen-agers, during which the clinic distributes free information on birth control and gynecological matters.

About 30 teen-agers who were in the clinic at the time of the demonstration were escorted out by police, McDevitt said.

It was the fourth day of Operation Rescue’s 10-day “Cities of Refuge” anti-abortion campaign. The group is targeting seven cities across the nation.

Earlier in the day, demonstrators from both sides of the abortion issue gathered outside the Sunnyvale Planned Parenthood clinic. The relatively calm demonstration was marked by two arrests. Police cited and released two anti-abortion protesters for carrying a sign that was too large.