‘The patients need us’: Trump’s rollback of anti-abortion prosecutions adds to uncertainty for Baltimore Planned Parenthood escorts

In a move likely to embolden protesters who block entrances to clinics that provide reproductive and other health care to women, President Donald J. Trump rolled back federal prosecutions of people impeding access to these clinics, calling those cases a “weaponization” of law enforcement.

The president also pardoned 23 anti-abortion demonstrators, as part of a slew of executive orders and pardons. Prosecutions under the 1994 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, or FACE Act, prohibits the physical interference of people entering an abortion clinic or physically damaging a reproductive health facility.

Congress passed the FACE Act in response to an increase in violence toward patients and providers of reproductive health centers. House Republican lawmakers are looking at repealing the law altogether.

“Future abortion-related FACE Act prosecutions and civil actions will be permitted only in extraordinary circumstances, or in cases presenting significant aggravating factors, such as death, serious bodily harm, or serious property damage,” said Chad Mizelle, chief of staff for the U.S. Department of Justice, in a memo.

“Cases not presenting significant aggravating factors can adequately be addressed under state or local law. Additionally, until further notice, no new abortion-related FACE Act actions – criminal or civil – will be permitted without authorization from the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division,” the memo stated. Mizelle also ordered the dismissal of three FACE Act cases in light of the new developments.

Planned Parenthood issued a statement condemning the president’s actions.

“Yet again Donald Trump has pardoned convicted criminals — this time nearly two dozen individuals who have used violence to either harass, intimidate or even prevent people from getting essential health care, including at Planned Parenthood health centers. Not even a week into his presidency, Donald Trump has disregarded the law and greenlit violence against abortion providers, all at the expense of people who wish to live in peace and safely exercise the right to control their own bodies and health,” the statement said.

“At Planned Parenthood, our top priority is always the safety and well-being of Planned Parenthood patients, providers, health center staff, and volunteers. Everyone deserves to get sexual and reproductive health care in a safe and supportive environment, and providers deserve to do their jobs without threats. We stand firm against those who want to use violence to intimidate Planned Parenthood staff, patients, and supporters.”

In Baltimore, the president’s orders added to the uncertainty already felt by escorts who shepherd patients into Planned Parenthood for health care.

In September, the Baltimore escorts were told their duties were being paused for reasons escort Amanda didn’t completely understand. “We were told we couldn’t escort patients because Planned Parenthood had changed the national guidelines and the Baltimore clinic did not have the staffing to shoulder the burden.”

The escorts were brought in for a one-off “special training” as protests were expected outside the clinic after the election. “Thankfully, there were none,” Amanda said. Since then, she and the other volunteers were told they would need additional training but have not been given a timeline or plan for fulfilling these new requirements.

Before the president’s orders, the escorts were waiting. Now their future as human shields on the escort line is even more precarious, and maybe more dangerous, because there are no longer clear protections to keep them safe.

Another individual, who has been a volunteer outside of Planned Parenthood going on five years and whom protesters have nicknamed the “Director of Evil,” said the president’s order was not surprising.

“We knew this sort of thing was coming, but it is still upsetting when it actually happens. I hope the state moves forward with a buffer law,” the volunteer said.

A buffer law, also known as safe access or bubble zones, creates a perimeter around an abortion facility to limit how close protesters can get. With a buffer law in place, the Baltimore Planned Parenthood volunteers are hoping the facility will see the value of having escorts in place.

So, what’s next for the Baltimore escorts who have been waiting in limbo to return to their post on Howard Street? “We don’t know,” escort Amanda said. “What we do know is that the patients need us.”