The Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Paul has drawn anti-abortion demonstrators for years on a near daily basis. That was no different Thursday, with Vice President Kamala Harris’s visit a signal that President Joe Biden’s Democratic Party intends to highlight the administration’s support of reproductive rights in the 2024 election.
Abortion debate plays out at St. Paul Planned Parenthood as Vice President Harris makes historic visit
The clinic has been the site of anti-abortion demonstrations for year. Some protesters were on hand as Harris became the first U.S. vice president to visit a clinic where abortions are performed.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
March 14, 2024 at 8:22PM
About a dozen demonstrators and an equal number of supporters line nearby sidewalks. Brian Gibson, director of Pro-Life Ministries, said most demonstrators didn’t know Harris’ visit Thursday or only found out about it a bit earlier. Supporters were mostly people from nearby who had also just learned of the visit.
Scott Pike of Falcon Heights said he has protested at the clinic for a decade. He demonstrates, he said, because he believes life begins at conception and considers abortion to be murder.
“If I were still in the womb, I would have value,” Pike said. “Everything was there to make me who I am today.”
Crystal Alan of Kenyon, Minn., an hour south of the Twin Cities, also regularly demonstrates at the clinic. She said she didn’t know Harris would be in town until she arrived for another round of protesting.
“It explained all the cops,” Alan said.
Ramsey County sheriff’s deputies and St. Paul police blocked traffic on Vandalia Street between University and Charles avenues in front of the clinic. They ordered protesters and onlookers to stand on the sidewalk across the street from the facility. Most did, although a man carrying a sign that said “complicit in genocide” kept approaching the clinic as authorities ordered him away.
Some people at the clinic were just there to catch a glimpse of the vice president.
Asha and Scott Rysdahl, who live nearby, came in hopes of catching a glimpse of Harris, noting that she is the first Black and Asian woman to hold the country’s second highest political office.
“It’s really cool to have a person like that in the White House,” said Asha Rysdahl, who is also of Indian descent.
Patrick Westerlund and Jessie Rasmussen, both of St. Paul, were among the crowd with their eyes trained on the clinic hoping for a glimpse of Harris.
“We were excited to show our support for the vice president,” Westerlund said.
Star Tribune staff writer Rochelle Olson contributed to this story.
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