Lent protest takes aim at Fayetteville abortion clinic
Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2008
People gather outside the Fayetteville Women's Clinic to protest abortion, but Dr. William Harrison sees their presence serving another purpose.
The OB-GYN said such events actually let more people know about his clinic's services.
"A lot of people don't even know we provide abortions," said the doctor who has been providing abortions in Fayetteville for more than 30 years.
About 40 people gathered outside the clinic on North College Avenue on Wednesday morning as part of a national church movement entitled "40 Days For Life."
Natalie Edmondson, the local campaign director for the movement, said people can call it a protest, but it's really a prayer vigil that lasts from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday.
"It's a peaceful vigil," she said. "We're trying to focus on it being a time of prayer and fasting."
Edmondson said she personally doesn't think any amount of protesting will end abortion and that only God can end it.
"It will only end if he intervenes," she said. "Us being there is not going to end abortion."
Edmondson said people will pray outside the clinic throughout the next month as part of the movement.
"We've been trying to get people out there praying every day," she said.
Harrison said the vigils don't bother him at all. In fact, he said, he has not seen a large group in quite some time.
"It doesn't affect us really," he said. "In the past (protesters ) really made me angry when they were yelling at my patients and blocking my doors."
Harrison provides other services in addition to abortions.
"I do routine OB-GYN stuff," he said. "In fact, abortions used to be a very small part of my practice."
He said abortions have become a larger part of his practice over the years because he's only one of two abortion doctors in the state.
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