To Protect and Escort

I don't consider myself an activist. I see myself as a protector, and knowing that what I do shields people who need help motivates me to continue.

In a way, I guess I've always been an ally. From attending Civil Rights rallies and anti-Vietnam marches in New York with my mother as a 3rd grader, to signing petitions in support of abortion rights, or getting birth control at Planned Parenthood in the early 70s, I was aware of social justice movements and supported them. They weren't formative memories, but they shaped me into someone willing to put myself forward to help others.

I had experiences with close family members that brought me face to face with LGBTQ community issues, the humanity of immigrants, and how racism affects everyday life for people of color.

I remember attending the Charlotte Women's March in January of 2017 by myself, searching for a community and wanting to contribute. I signed up for emails and began taking action with several local organizations in Charlotte focused on progressive change. Later that year, I saw an invitation to do clinic escorting and thought to myself, "they still do that?" After Roe vs Wade was handed down, I assumed that people who needed abortions were able to get them. I had not previously known about anti-abortion protestors or the harassment they heap on people seeking healthcare.

I became more and more involved in the Reproductive Justice movement, even leading a program that provided last-minute transportation to people getting abortions at any of our local clinics.

The thing that motivates me to continue is knowing that I am protecting patients, and their rights.

It's disheartening to look into the future and see how, without more allies and people standing with us, privacy rights seem destined to fall. It takes a special kind of person to be a protector, and goodness knows we need more of them now than ever.