March 10, 2018, marked the 25th National Day of Appreciation for Abortion Providers, and the anniversary of abortion provider Dr. David Gunn’s tragic murder. Reproaction celebrated abortion providers and clinic access in the DMV Saturday with a Positive Presence and thank you letter writing party.

Around 8 a.m. on Saturday, activists gathered outside of the Falls Church Healthcare Center in Falls Church, Virginia. Pro-life demonstrators were already surrounding the building, however our activists quickly outnumbered their presence. More than 20 activists came to support the clinic and held affirming signs that read “We love FCHC” and “We support you” and worked to create a positive environment outside of the clinic. Some of our activists even started singing and dancing to feel good songs like, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “My Girl” to drown out the yelling from the pro-life side. The pro-life demonstrators were overwhelmed with the number of our activists and they tried to engage with us, which allowed for many patients to get in and out of the clinic without the usual harassment. During our presence, we thanked abortion providers, including non-medical clinic staff, custodians, and the clinic escorts who help ensure the clinic stays open and accessible.

After the Positive Presence, our activists gathered to write thank you notes for an independent abortion provider in nearby Maryland. Participants discussed the importance of supporting clinic access in the DMV and some of the barriers to accessing abortion in Virginia. Many pregnant people and women in Northern Virginia are traveling to D.C. and Maryland for abortion care because of the state’s abortion restrictions, such as the mandatory 24-hour waiting period and intrusive counseling requirements. The majority of the abortion clinics in the DMV are independent clinics that don’t always have access to resources or support. Together we thanked clinics for providing compassionate abortion care and their commitment to providing the full range of reproductive healthcare services.

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