Planned Parenthood Poughkeepsie

STOPP arrived AT 8:15AM. I chose the larger (plastic) Malachi sign. Rich was already there in preparation for the scripturewall. Since Helen was sick and unable to participate Rich crossed the street to pamphlet and call out to those entering the abortuary.

A blonde haired woman remained at the parking lot with her child while her friend went inside for an abortion. I appealed to the woman not to kill her baby. Holding Malachi I begged her not to do that to her baby. I told her that the doctor would pull the baby from her body piece by piece until he had removed all of the body parts. Only to reassemble them later to ensure that he had not left any inside of her. She listened briefly, then entered to kill her baby. Recognizing that we had failed with the woman who entered the building we then tried to persuade her friend. That woman shouted back to us that she was opposed to abortion, that she agreed with us and was aware of the medical facts we presented because she is a nurse. At first it seemed she may have employed a tactic of agreeing with us hoping we would leave her alone. However, the more she spoke it became evident she was telling us the truth. Rich replied that if she knew abortion was wrong she should not have been a participant and the best way to correct that is to enter the building and remove her friend. She then carried on how her friend had such a hard life etc., etc., etc.

Three young girls arrived together. Again, I prominently displayed Malachi and shouted out to them. A red headed girl in the middle began crying and shouted to us that she was a vegetarian for several years and demanded to know if we ate meat. I acknowledged that I eat meat and asked her if she wanted her baby to be butchered like Malachi? I questioned how she could have such feeling for a cow yet be insensitive to her baby being murdered? She called me a "scumbag," an "asshole," etc. I replied that is ok call me any name you want but they don't care about you in there. Once you're done they'll kick you out and never care about you. They are there to make money by killing your baby. We don't make any money from this whatever the outcome. Rich and I kept it up as the walked across the parking lot and up to the door. She stopped in front of the door having second thoughts. Her girlfriends continued to console (and encourage her) she then walked back across the parking lot to her car. We never let up. It appeared as though we had a save. Then the car was parked directly in front of the back door. We could tell that she was able to hear us so Rich and I continued to shout out to her. Eventually her friends influence was stronger than ours and she went in.

As I was getting ready to leave a black woman who was leaving the parking lot stopped to yell at me. She wasn't interested in facts she just wanted to massage her ego by hearing herself yell at me. She tried to make it a class and racial issue. I tried to reason with her but eventually I told her that I wasn't there for her approval and she can think whatever she wants. Arnie offered her a pamphlet but that went nowhere. He agreed to stay until others showed up. I offered him one of our signs but he declined. I left at 10:13AM.

The following day at the FTT rally Dennis stated that he arrived at about 11:00AM. He said the police responded to planned parenthood twice while he was there. I don't recall what the first incident was but he said the second time they arrived a man who was trying to talk his wife/girlfriend out of an abortion eventually received an appearance ticket for his efforts.

The Butchertorium in Poughkeepsie - PP

Stopp arrived at 9:15. Soon, the activity picked up. I brought Tiny Tim (10 week aborted kid) and a sign that says, "PP IS AGAINST INFORMED CONSENT FOR ABORTION". Certain events stand out.

A girl, dancing around and kidding with the deathscorts; later, when she came out, no more dancing. Her head down, between her knees as she entered the zone of trauma.

A man, dropping off a young woman; he came to Pat and Audry and me, and said 'I agree with you. I tried to talk her out of it; even told her I'd TAKE the baby." (The baby wasn't his). "I told her, it's murder, it's alive." It didn't work. Here is a type of case that we have spoken of before. A woman, who knows the truth, and chooses death for her child. She is given alternatives, and it doesn't matter.

The female deathscort has had a habit of blasting classical music, so our voices are drowned out. This week, I had had it;I knew that Rich VanSlambrook had taken the bull by the horns before, so I warned her that I would call the police. I did. A police car came by, and she turned it down. As soon as he left, up went the volume. So I called on my "buddy", executive director Steve White. I told him that we played by their rules ( not blocking, etc.) so it was time for him to enforce City regulations on excessive noise. I told him that I had called the police again, and would sign a complaint. He said he would talk to her, and he did. She slunk over to her car, and turned the volume WAY down.

I know that many of you will disagree with me on this next point. I make it a practice to rebuke the deathscorts - I say things like, "How do you sleep with blood on your hands?" I told the female (after saying "thank you" for turning the music down) that her deeds, especially in escorting the women into the deathchamber, result in destroying not just the unborn, but the futures of the women who come limping out. Last time I was there, 2 weeks ago, I was having a great conversation with a woman; the deathscort (who will henceforth be know as Hanna the Horrible) interrupted us, over and over, until the woman turned to her and said, "Excuse me! I'd like to hear the other side, please!". I turned to HH and said, "Thank you! You have proven what we have been saying! You will NOT allow these women to hear the other side. Thank you." As the time went on, I continued to say, in an audible voice, "Wow, that Lady, she's TERRIFIC. We need to keep her here at PP! She proves our position, and is a REAL help!" I kept it up for a while.

Some say I'm not being "Christian". They mean, "nice". Well, read the Gospels, folks. Christ has a REALLY hard time with the unrepentant, the hard of heart. He calls people names..."Brood of Vipers; Whitened Sepulchers;" In STOPP's founding Scripture verse, Matt:18-6, He says "And anyone who causes one of these little ones to sin, better for him that he have a millstone fastened around his neck, and he be thrown in the sea." When I was re-evaluating Christianity, after a long search, I had a really hard time with the Christ of the Gospel. He was NOT "Gentle Jesus". Sometimes He was nasty; harsh; violent even -(Cleansing the Temple). He "Turned me Off." He rebuked sinners. To the broken ones, like the Woman caught in adultery, He was gentle - but not "tolerant" - "Go then and sin no more".

Who are more deserving of rebuke than those who corrupt our children, and kill our grandchildren?

I understand that there are those who disagree. Fine. Perhaps you will get to their hearts your way. But I need to tell these people the truth, about their deeds, their mendacity, and their future.

Helen Westover, reporting.

Last week, I presented Scheidler's Face The Truth video at the Dutchess County Vicariate. At the time it seemed to go well. Several people said that showing victims of abortion made a LOT of sense. The way Joe presented it was outstanding... he begins by saying that every time we walk into a Catholic Church we are confronted by an image of unspeakable violence; the Cross. Then he developed the subject in the same way I have been for the last few months.

About 5 people took my phone number and I hope to hear from them soon but nothing yet. Let's see what happens tomorrow - that will be a SURPRISE to our readers. Ha. The next day (May 31) the only person who showed up at PP was anti-abortion heroine Audrey Mondello. She held Tiny Tim (the Cunningham sign) and I displayed Malachi. We were a double threat and once again out came poor beleagured Steve White (let's begin a Rosary Novena for him!). He said that some felt harassed. I said "Steve, these signs are disturbing as hell; of course any of your workers will feel less than serene about our presence."

He agreed, asked about another kind of car he's thinking about, and went back in. I think it's very interesting to note the effect this activity is having on the PP workers. More on that later. Soon the guy from Mid-Hudson Laboratories drove up - I gave him a pamphlet and said "Take a GOOD look. This may be what you are collecting from here!" He looked thoughtful.

In between, have been picketing at the Poughkeepsie Plaza, and the Hudson Plaza. They are terrific areas, lots of traffic. Then I leafleted both lots. One man said "Take that off my car! You have no right to put that on my car!" I said "1. Yes I do, it's called the First Amendment, and 2. I CAN'T take it off! It would be stealing because it's YOUR property now."

When I leaflet, I move pretty fast - any volunteers for this? It's fun - I used to skip cars that people were coming to or going from out of fear. I've found however that when one (gently) thrusts any kind of material at people, they automatically take it. So that's not a problem now. ADVICE - never, never assume that people are going to be hostile. So often, I get a polite "Thank you."

Later on in the week, picketed good old Burnett Blvd. and leafleted those shopping centers. Just called Chet Kilgore to order 1000 more of those great Malachi cards. The following Friday I went to PP again, later. The Holy Ghost must have had something to do with it because...

That day at PP, among the people going into the death camp was a young girl, her Significant Other and a darling baby in the back seat. She stopped to tell me how gross the sign was and I expected an argument. Instead, she said, and I quote "When I was having my son, I went to them for a pregnancy test, and the VERY FIRST thing they said to me was 'Do you want an abortion?' "

I spluttered something about the fact that's how they make their money, and then they drove into the lot. I was kicking myself for not questioning her further and doubted she would offer more; after all, she was going BACK to this horrid place. This is a real conundrum for all of us who cover PP; even pro-life people, or people who are against the idea of abortion, keep going there. There are several reasons; lack of health care (?), and the fact they are fornicating, and see no moral quandary in getting assistance from the same people who kill babies on a regular basis. If only, if ONLY the Church had preached against fornication for the last 30 years! Please email me if any of you have heard a sermon against ANY sexual sins in the last, to be fair, 10 years. I get around from one parish to another and the last time I heard anything along those lines was 20 years ago when Father Paul Marx, of Human Life International came to St. Mary's in Wappingers Falls.

Father preached the truth about the inseparable connection between contraception and abortion; people stood up and walked out, as he spoke. There are prolifers who continually bemoan the clergy's silence on abortion: the most searing question is, why have they been mute on the sins our Lady of Fatima said send the most souls to hell? Talk about "connecting the dots" - maybe with the latest revelations on priestly violations of chastity (at the highest levels, in the NY Archdiocese), we have our answer.

Readers, look down from a higher perspective; and from a broad one, encompassing all these wasted years; look at the debris of the "sexual revolution", our children and grandchildren rendered sick from venereal disease, abortion, their consciences dull and uninformed, their lack of direction and purpose: and hear the roaring Silence of the Church.

Abortion? The symptom of a deeper and more pervasive crisis of faith. "My God, My God, why have Your chosen clergy abandoned us, and our children?" Back to Nicole.

She came back out and stopped the car again; I asked her "May I please ask you some questions?" She agreed. I asked her if PP had given her OPTIONS; you know, like they claim they do, about Adoption, etc. She said "Not once. I kept TELLING them I would NOT have an abortion, that my boyfriend and I had figured it out and that both of us WANTED this baby. But they KEPT INSISTING on abortion!" I looked into the back seat - asked "And is this little one the result?"

"Yes, and if I had followed their advice he would be dead." This beautiful little boy; well cared for, and obviously happy - he was 10 months old. My last question was, may I quote you? Will you give me your name? She said "Sure; my name is Nicole."

God Bless you Nicole, you and your man, and your baby; may you all find the Way to Salvation through the Church Christ founded.

Wednesday, May 22, 2002

This time I wore my PLANNED PARENTHOOD KILLS BABIES sign, along with holding the 10 week murdered kid. It made all the difference. I was there from 12:30 to 4 and gave out more literature than ever. Several responses were just so heartening. A black lady drove by and looked, first at the baby, then at the PP Kills sign. Finally she said "Good girl! Keep doing your work."

A man in a suit said "What you are doing is wonderful! This needs to be done." I would estimate that a good third of the folks coming and going out of PP took literature or asked questions. A polite business-type young lady came out and started with the accusation that I was being "intimidating" simply by using the sign. I said, for the 1700th time, "Yeah, just as people were intimidated by the pictures out of Auschwitz, like myself. Then, leg-hold traps, starving Africans, etc."

"Well, still" said she, you are "extremist". I then educated her on PP's record of extremism - partial birth abortion, and Mary Campbell, Med Director of PPFA lying to Congress about what happens. You may all remember that Dr. Campbell set off a panic by telling Congress that PBA is no sweat for the baby, since the anesthesia kills the baby first.

Physicians were flooded by calls from pregnant mothers who needed surgery, frightened out of their wits by this statement. SO - the head of the American Anesthesiologists went hurriedly to Congress and said that this was NOT TRUE, and that if a woman is given enough anesthesia to kill the fetus, she would be dead too.

Mary Campbell of PPFA, perjurer, went back and said, "well I just tried to simplify it for Congress." I have a sign that says "PP Lies To Teens, To Parents, to CONGRESS". She didn't believe it; I have to carry EVERYTHING with me, it seems. I wrote an article on this for the Pok. Journal, and have copies of it. Then I reminded her of the Unborn Victims of Violence Act which all of you helped pass the State Senate. I advised her of the fact that PP opposed it.

Then there is the situation of babies who survive abortion; PP is on record as opposing helping them live, or even die humanely. After that litany, I asked her, um whom do you think is extreme?? She thought for a while, then said "well you would accomplish more by not being so intimidating." I thanked her for having such an open mind.

The hostility level began to get REALLY intense. My purpose, as stated before, is to make going to PP a really lousy experience, aside from educating. Looking at that kid's face, hands, and feet, the horrific violence he/she endured, is not pleasant. Many said "We don't NEED to see that when we come here!" Well, duh, you will (I didn't say that).

It is well known that the pictures of the victims drive the pro-aborts bonkers. Totally bonkers. A few years back I was picketing with the "Emily" picture... the third trimester baby's head... I have named her Emily... and I was with another woman in front of PP in Pok. Suddenly a UPS truck pulled up onto the sidewalk, and aimed for me. I had to lurch out of the way. This was witnessed by the other woman. After several meetings with the brass at UPS plus threatened lawsuits I received a full apology, and the driver, who apparantly was a hothead anyway, was dismissed.

At PP today I was aimed at by a woman with one of those nasty-looking new Chrysler PT Cruisers. (Sorry if any of you readers have one... I just hate them). I was NOT in the driveway but over to the side, so she had to be darned deliberate to attempt to scare me. Well, she goes in and COMPLAINS to the PP folks that I am being threatening!!! I hadn't said a word to her until after she parked and THEN I said "Hey, you missed!"

I suppose she felt my notice of her poor aim was insulting. A few minutes later out comes my long-time pal Steve White, executive director of Mid-Hudson PP. Steve and I have a history. Through the years our communication has always been friendly, even warm. He has been important in teaching me to separate the sin from the sinner. He peers over at me from the door and said "Helen, is that YOU?"

I said "Yeah! How ARE you?" After we cleared up what actually happened with the driver of the PT we talked about old times, and aging. We concluded we are NOT in favor of it one bit. He's pushing 60 and I 55. We chatted about Boomers who now need knee replacements (we were once avid runners) and other stuff, and then he said "Gotta get back to work. Take care."

Sure I've tried to turn him around; STOPP has demolished him over and over, even forcing him to deny the reality of a study issued by the Alan Guttmacher Institute. The AGI is the research arm of PPFA It said that children who were not exposed to sex-education had a significantly lower incidence of pregnancy and STDs! In answer, during a radio program we both appeared on, he sputtered "I don't CARE about studies!! It's a matter of COMMON SENSE!" Anyway he also promised to tell the staff that it's OK, it's only totally non-violent Helen.

However, we know; it's got nothing to do with Helen - or STOPP - it's that utterly tragic picture of what PP does, at least every Tuesday. One of the reasons that I bring up this episode is to suggest that it would be so WONDERFUL to have 5 people out there with the murdered baby pictures. I am frankly not at all afraid to be out there alone. I have done it for years. I bring a camera and a tape recorder with me so I can cover myself if I need to. I am totally CONVINCED that if we did this on a consistent basis, we would go far toward ending this slaughter. The "muddled middle" are without exception shocked at the truth of abortion. I have seen people break into tears in their cars; cover their gaping mouths at the sight. What if we had an army? What are we afraid of? Being hated? You are hated anyway.

Besides, I have it on good authority (the Lord Jesus Christ) that this is the mark of a Christian. Being hurt? 1. if there are enough people, the chances of that are slim to none. 2. So what? Can you imagine the change of heart people would have if we made it clear that we will put our bodies on the line for the BABIES bodies? That's what Rescue was but they were breaking the law. Here, we are scrupulosly within the law. Think about it; please.

Thursday, May 16, 2002

Pretty slow day, in terms of patients, but those I spoke to have caused me to ask the question: how many of these clients know that PP does abortions? I have had the Greg Cunningham poster redone -( a story in itself ), and it is far more gripping, due to the way it was done; by Catskill Art Supply store, on Main St. in Arlington. This got the attention of the staff quickly. At one point four of them just stared out the door for a good 5 minutes. People coming out of PP however were very receptive to me. They took my literature, and said, in effect, "We agree with you."

One man said "I'm a Catholic; no problem!" Wonder which CCD he went to or what Catholic school? It could have been any one of them, believe me. The True Faith is dying in this country as it has in England. "Morals?? What's a moral?" I said "Then what the hell are you doing HERE?" I greeted most of the people there, staff and clients, with "You realize that this is a slaughter house, right?"

But I had to tell about 20 clients that abortions are done there. Either they were putting me on or they really don't know. I'll wear my "PP KILLS CHILDREN" next time, along with the baby picture. Two black kids came by, and were REALLY offended.

"Get that sign out of my face!" I told him that I was not "in his face" but on the sidewalk. He disagreed. So I said "Well, close your eyes!" I get a lot of that. The reality is however that the young gentleman was quite right; I AM trying to get this "In Their Face" - his, and thousands like him who would rather close their eyes. Quick digression... Before I got started on Thursday, received a fund-raising letter from Joe Scheidler of the Pro-Life Action League. He conducts these "FACE THE TRUTH" tours where he organizes locals to use the signs, and form as long a chain as possible. Like the Life Chain with testosterone. I tried to get Joe here again to help us with the Tour but no one was interested. He and Greg Cunningham are having phenomenal success with their "in your face" tactics. Joe quoted an ex-abortionist, whom he had interviewed, asking him about pro-abort strategy these days. The doctor said that the mantra these days is

DON'T LET THEM SHOW THE PICTURES

They don't ARGUE with the pictures; they throw red herrings, utter nonsensical nonsequiturs, but the pictures... In fact a social worker type came out of PP and said "Let me take you to a place where I can show you unwanted babies...." I cut her off with "There are no unwanted babies; I can prove it, you're a social worker, and you should, and DO understand that any 'languishing' babies are around because liberals like you have been pushing this 'Family Preservation' thing for years, so they don't get adopted and grow up belonging to no one!"

On the street, run-on sentences are the rule. She hesitated, and I finished the conversation: "So rather than face the reality your senses are SCREAMING at you, you throw in everything including the kitchen sink to avoid coming to terms with this murdered baby!" Driving off, she said, " It's not murder..."

While I'm at it, anyone interested in helping to organize a Face the Truth Tour? (more later)

Then the cops came. There's SOMETHING about that PICTURE. Even with Malachai the PP folks never went as buggy as they do over this 10 week victim. For obvious reasons these are what the kids look like after they kill them at PP in Poughkeepsie. Remember in the words of the kids from Pok high, THEY HAVE HANDS! So the cops came, looked me over, made sure I wasn't blocking the driveway, and went away. I stayed for a couple of hours more and gave out literature: and challenged the workers at the slaughterhouse. "Come work for ME. I need an assistant; you need a good night's sleep." No takers yet, but I remain optimistic.

Still inspired by Joe Scheidler (to whom I spoke today, about his FACE THE TRUTH tours) I went back to Vassar College. I received NO challenges. I was told by 3 groundskeepers to "Keep it UP - Good LUCK, Miss." And 2 carloads of students gave me "thumbs up".

URGENT ASIDE: WHY ARE WE NOT DOING MORE OF THIS??? Who out there will join me in this? I want to use the 10 week kid with someone else using Malachai. Where ARE YOU??

After Vassar I returned to another fulfilling task, leafleting. STOPP did a great deal of this in the early days. I was leafleting cars with anti-PP literature when the President of PP caught me, and treating me like a child said, "Now Helen, you have to STOP telling lies about PP!!" I said "Ok, when YOU stop lying to your clients, the DC Legislature, and the press, I will stop telling the Truth about you!" They can't help but lie.

And all we have to do is tell the truth; so why aren't we? Why are we bothering with the Republican Party, which doesn't give a damn about the kids, why aren't we writing letters to the Editor when the pro-aborts expose themselves (every time they BURP they are exposing themselves as liars)? When O when are we going to get SERIOUS about this!?

I have used the Life Dynamics pamphlet described in a previous report, and this is the same poster which has received all the attention. But the FATHER of the Display of the Victims is Chet Kilgore - it was from him that I got Malachai and "Emily", the name I gave to the little girl whose head was ripped off... another POWERFUL picture. Chet now has antiabortion cards, of a first trimester kid, Emily, and Malachai. I ordered a couple of thousand of those cards, and have been sticking them in the windows of cars. Some towns have ordinances against putting stuff under the windshield wipers of cars but I've not encountered any law that forbids leafleting any other way. I have been using the Malachai card for leafleting. A man came up to me at the Pok. PlaZa. and told me I had no right to do this; I said, go home and check the Constitution! The deal is, if a mall allows ANYONE to leaflet; the local pizza joint, or any other organization, they MUST allow you. If they forbid you, then they must forbid everyone else: which means they must change their policy. Too much trouble for most of them; then there are the malls which belong to a variety of stores, without a central landlord. You are free to leaflet to your heart's desire. So, watching for the weather forecast, I have embarked upon a leafleting blitz. Again, it's so FUN.

I spoke to Joe Scheidler this morning, about his Face The Truth Tours. I need volunteers to get it going here in the Hudson Valley. I ordered about 50 brochures from him on how to get it started, and along with that comes a video. Once I receive the materials, I need groups who will consider doing this. I'm hoping to begin in the Fall. We can do NO less. Helen

PS - Chet Kilgore's address is N2693 Hwy, Z G143, Dousman WI 53118. His website is www.antiabortionsigns.com; # is 1-262-495-8459. Chet is the Grandaddy of the Victims Pictures. He needs the work; he barely charges what it cost him to make the signs.