Operation Rescue Director Leads Abortion Protest Picketing Peaceful; Often-Arrested Advocate Plans Another Demonstration Today

Protesters outnumbered police just 2-1 at a north Spokane anti-abortion rally led by the national director of Operation Rescue on Friday afternoon.

No one became violent, but police stood behind the Planned Parenthood clinic, on top of it, and in the parking lot, photographing and talking to protesters.

Ten escorts wearing bright blue sweat shirts accompanied patients to the building amid shouts from protesters handing out pictures of dead fetuses.

Abortions were not scheduled at the clinic, 123 E. Indiana, on Friday or today.

About 30 people, including toddlers and white-haired men and women, paced in front of the clinic, carrying anti-abortion signs and calling out to patients.

“It makes everybody a little nervous,” said police Lt. Jim Nicks. “This is a very emotional issue.”

Operation Rescue’s leader, Flip Benham, wouldn’t say whether he’d advocate breaking any laws during his Spokane visit, which includes another Planned Parenthood picket from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. today.

Clinic entrances are often blocked at other Operation Rescue demonstrations around the country.

Benham, 46, has been arrested repeatedly for trespassing and inciting to riot, said Sandra Meicher, director of Planned Parenthood of Spokane and Whitman Counties. A Dallas doctor and his wife got a restraining order against Benham.

“We can save and rescue these children by laying down our lives for them,” Benham said Friday. “Sometimes it involves lying down right in front of an abortion mill door.”

Not in Spokane, said Mayor Jack Geraghty.

Police have been instructed to have a “zero tolerance” policy toward trespassing, violence and property destruction during the protests, Geraghty said.

White and orange barricades marked the clinic’s property boundaries, and protesters were ordered to stay behind them. Blocking the driveway or access to the clinic also is illegal, Nicks said.

Four pro-abortion-rights pastors stood with Meicher in the parking garage, facing the sign-wavers.

“Isn’t it tasteless to come and make us feel this uncomfortable when providing a legal service?” said Meicher.

Benham has denounced violence, but police said the protesters are “very evasive” when asked about their specific plans.

Benham applauded the efforts of the protesters, many of whom are associated with Lifeline Ministries and picket in small groups a couple of times a week.

He marveled at the strong police presence. “You’ve become the most dangerous people in Spokane today,” he told protesters. “There isn’t a crack house that demands more attention from the police than an abortion mill.”

“When they begin to treat you like a criminal, you begin to feel like a criminal,” said Jim Anderson, director of Lifeline Ministries.

Nicks said police were there to protect protesters as well as patients and clinic workers.

An angry man in camouflage attire drew attention from both police and protesters when he shouted at Benham, “Get out of my face!”

Benham asked the man, Gary Beck, if he knew somebody inside and urged him to come and talk. Protesters thought perhaps his wife or girlfriend was having an abortion.

Beck said later he was waiting for his frightened wife, who works as a clinic nurse.

“She’s scared to death to come to work,” he said. “They don’t have any idea of what they put these people through. My kids are scared for their mother to go to work.”