Anti-Abortion Protestors Block Bronx Women’s Health Center
In the Mott Haven section of the Bronx, eight people with rosaries in their hands stand outside Dr. Emily Women’s Health Center. These individuals are part of a group called 40 Days for Life. “We pray for the mothers who are scared to be mothers. We thank you for the kids and mothers saved from abortions,” protestors chant. The signs they hold read, “Ask me about abortion pill reversal.”
The 40 Days for Life Campaign
The Texas-based group started its first campaign in 2007. They aimed to end abortion by conducting all-day vigils outside abortion centers, prayers and fasting, and doing community outreach. “40 Days For Life is a national ministry with volunteers to come pray in front of locations,” another protestor explained. Gloria Fanfal, one of the 40 Days For Life protestors, comes to the clinic every day to pray, sing, and give women pamphlets to persuade them to think twice about their visit. According to the group's methods, people visibly show their support for 40 Days for Life by wearing wristbands, placing signs in their yards, or displaying bumper stickers on their vehicles.
Services at Dr. Emily Women’s Health Center
The clinic, on Southern Boulevard, offers a wide range of gynecological services for women. “It’s not just an abortion clinic. It’s to get all around care to see if you’re okay,” noted Dawn Jones, a neighbor of the clinic. The medical facility provides the following services:
- Birth Control
- Colposcopy
- HPV testing
- Pap Smears
- STD screenings
Inside the clinic is a clean environment with women sitting, waiting to be called in for their appointments. As women walk up to the doors, the receptionist buzzes them in. Employees of the clinic say their work is necessary and the medical professionals are careful.
Medical Abortion Procedures and Data
Besides the traditional abortion procedure, Dr. Emily Women’s Health Center offers the RU486 abortion pill, known as Mifeprex. The abortion pill, also known by its generic name Mifepristone, blocks the progesterone hormone that is needed to continue a pregnancy. An ultrasound technician stated, “We only go up to first term pregnancy. If [the fetus] is too big, we send [the mothers] elsewhere.”
The following table provides data regarding the abortion pill services based on information from the clinic and the FDA:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Medication Name | RU486 / Mifeprex (Mifepristone) |
| FDA Approval Date | Approved since 2000 |
| Effective Rate | 97% (within the first 10 weeks) |
| Failure Rate | 7% after 10 weeks |
| Mechanism | Blocks progesterone hormone |
Impact on Patients and the Community
The protestors target Dr. Emily Women’s Health Center on days it thinks the clinic performs abortions. To manage the situation, the clinic has hired escorts who stand in front of the clinic doors and take women through the protestors’ picket line. “They’re aggressive. They chase you, run you down. I understand their side but there’s two sides to this,” said the ultrasound technician. “They literally come up to your car. I feel bad for the patients. They already feel guilty coming in.”
Patients have expressed varying views on the situation. Jennifer Trinidad, a patient, said, “Everybody has a right to do what they want. You know, you don’t know for what reason they want to terminate a pregnancy, so I don’t really judge nobody.” Renee Carter, who recently began to use the clinic for birth control, added, “It’s a free country. You can do whatever you want but when you’re screaming at people, that’s a different story.”