Protesters ignore safety practices

For the past year and three months, I have been an escort for Planned Parenthood. Despite your beliefs on sexual and reproductive health care, I believe we all have an expectation of decorum and civility toward one another - even if we disagree philosophically. Yet, civility and decorum are often not the experiences of an escort at Planned Parenthood.

Every Saturday morning and throughout the week, protesters show up and voice their opposition to Planned Parenthood. With some of the protesters, their behavior is innocuous; they show up, pray, sing, then depart. Other protesters are deliberately hostile, verbally abusive and invade personal space. As escorts, we are trained not to respond in any way, our focus is on the patients and their safety.

But amid a public health crisis, where social distancing is emphasized, it would be irresponsible to overlook the behavior of the protesters, as they neglect social distancing practices. The protesters still insist on haphazardly gathering in large groups and disregarding the social distancing measures among themselves as well as with the volunteers. The responses to this behavior for the volunteers are also limited. Alerting local authorities is ineffective, because there is only so much they can do without an actual crime committed. Though trespassing and lack of social distancing is normally a petty offense, in these uncertain times, it could be deadly.

Regardless of your beliefs regarding Planned Parenthood, at this moment, everyone should be concerned with the health and safety of our community. At what point does their gathering shift from an issue of individual right to protest, into a reckless, myopic and dangerous behavior? For them to continue their protest in this manner, despite recommendations from public health officials is not only irresponsible and selfish but potentially fatal to not only themselves but the volunteers.

Nicholas Richard-Thompson

Aurora