A Day in the Life of a Social Activist

Emily Brooks, one of the leading organizers of Saturday morning's Planned Parenthood clinic defense, preps protestors outside of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral in SoHo on what's to come. Representing NYC for Abortion Rights, Brooks helps to organize a variety of protests advocating for women's rights and reproductive justice. "There’s a whole crew of things that we need to be fighting for in order to give people true autonomy and freedom over their own lives," Brooks says, listing the abolishment of the Hyde Amendment as well as the racial and economic restrictions on abortion among others, "But we saw an opening around issues of abortion because we didn’t see any other group really fighting around that at the moment."

The crowd rushes to stop church members from proceeding towards Planned Parenthood as Emily leans in to discuss their next step. The opposing mob used the back-door to exit the church Saturday morning for the first time since NYC for Abortion Rights began organizing clinic defenses last year. "I think they were intimidated and ashamed," Brooks remarked, raising her voice over chants of "Pro-life, that's a lie, they don't care if women die."

A Planned Parenthood volunteer waits in the crosshairs of the two protesting groups. The counter-protests have been a point of tension between the organization and NYC for Abortion Rights, as Planned Parenthood finds them disruptive rather than helpful. "People at that meeting were so sick of losing, were so pissed off of this non-confrontational strategy of shying away from talking about abortion as a positive good in the lives of people who can get pregnant and of losing ground despite the fact that the majority of people in this country support access to abortion," Brooks said, referencing a meeting last year in which those who felt an obligation to take action against the church discussed whether or not to obey Planned Parenthood's request. "People were just fed up with that and wanted to say 'Enough'."

Members of St. Patricks Cathedral gather on the roadside opposite the Planned Parenthood clinic. An armed police man stands guard, acting as a barrier between the protestors. Hymns can be heard amongst prayers to save the souls of those who seek the clinic's services. "The whole language around abortion as a bad choice, a tragic choice, something people don't want, I think we need to get rid of that entirely," Brooks stated in regard to what more needs to be done within the movement. "Abortion is a positive good in the lives of people who can get pregnant, and the left needs to acknowledge that and fight for it."

An abortion rights protestor yells across the line of police to a monk weilding a crucifix as they back their way across Houston Street. "We’re here to show that church that if they are going to take people to harass patients at our clinics, we are going to go and show our displeasure with them at their church," said Brooks. The organization was able to delay the church members from arriving to the clinic by half an hour, moving only when forced by officers.

Police officers line up to block counter-protestors outside St. Patricks Cathedral after they marched behind the group's retreat. "We need to stop cowering to the Church and allowing the Church to take the landscape around issues of morality," Brooks stated. "It is immoral to force someone to carry a pregnancy to term when they don't want to. That is immoral, that is violence." Although three of the NYC for Abortion Rights members were assaulted by a member of the church during last month's clinic defense, the NYPD arrived early on the scene to protect the St. Patricks' congregation on their journey to and from the clinic.

Brooks raises a fist in celebration of the clinic defense's success. About 80 people turned up on Saturday, representing a variety of social activism organizations. "People were really confident and pissed off, and I think especially now everyone is thinking about these issues with the Kavanaugh nomination" Brooks remarked, describing why she thought this defense elicted a greater turn-out than those of the past.

Brooks delivers a speech on sexual violence and abortion rights at a rally against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in Times Square. "Enough of elite institutions funneling these men into anti-democratic positions," Brooks said, calling for action. Kavanaugh, who was accused of sexual assault by multiple women, was elected onto the bench Saturday afternoon.