Clinic Escorts
What is a Clinic Escort?
A clinic escort is a volunteer who accompanies a person seeking an abortion (plus any friends or family members who are with them) from their car door, to the clinic door, acting as a shield from anti-choice harassment. The usually wear bright pinnies that say “PROCHOICE ESCORT” or “CLINIC VOLUNTEER” to distinguish themselves from the protestors.
Some escorts volunteer directly for the clinic they escort for, and report to a paid staff volunteer coordinator at the clinic itself. Others are individual groups separate from the clinic, and provide services to several area clinics.
To find opportunities either:
- Go to Planned Parenthood‘s website, find the nearest health center, clinic on “Get Involved” to see if they have volunteer opportunities (which would include clinic escorting) or call the nearest Planned Parenthood health center and ask to speak to the Volunteer Coordinator about becoming an escort.
- Go to the National Abortion Federation’s website, go to their map of providers, and find the nearest provider. Contact that health center and ask them about becoming a clinic escort. They can either put you in contact with the in-house coordinator, or point you in the direction of the local escorting organization.
- Search the map below. It’s not exhaustive, but it is what I could find with some intense googling. Email addresses may be out of date.
Some other links that might be helpful:
End Clinic Harassment: A site with a state by state directoy, a getting started, and FAQ’s.
Clinic Escort: The blog section hasn’t been update in awhile, but still has good resources.
Clinic Defense: Frequently updated blog w good escorting guide!
