Thread by @taliaotg

Happening now at Basilica of Old St. Pat’s, #Manhattan:

NYPD has barricaded both sides of the street. SRG, a counter-terrorism unit that is not supposed to be deployed to protests, is stationed with flex cuffs.

Later, NYPD will escort clinic harassers to a Planned Parenthood.

Thread here provides some background on who attends these “processions”:

Basilica sits 2 blocks from the Planned Parenthood. On Bowery, smack dab in the middle of the two, the barricade obsession is most pronounced.

It’s not clear why NYPD has adopted this tactic, but it has deeply incensed the pro-choice activists who come to protect this clinic.

Despite the abundance of barricades heading toward Planned Parenthood, the church hosting clinic invaders and christofascists (many of whom travel from out of town to attend) remains relatively unguarded and thus is covered in chalk.

This is a protest to defend abortion rights as much as it is a protest against the NYPD.

Arrests

4 people arrested in protest against the NYPD’s use of barricades and a huge NYPD presence to allow for clinic invaders and christofascists ease in intimidating a clinic.

Here’s two little dweebs who are part of a group that cosplay as Patriot Front and advocate explicit christofascism. This is their second time joining the procession.

I’ve asked multiple people with the “procession” as well as the fake escorts trying to hassle patients about the presence of explicit christofascists. One said she’s not “with” them but was aware “2 members of ANI” were with them. Everyone else stays silent.

.@CHBAF is trying to conduct interviews while being Jesus Pope having an abortion, and bizarrely also isn’t getting any quotes.

.@CHBAF is interviewing CM @GaleBrewerNYC about coming to clinic defense, chatting with cops, and now leaving. She mostly focused on scolding Barney’s language.

Brewer got birddogged into admitting she “didn’t like that” the NYPD arrested 4 clinic defenders.

@CHBAF announces to everyone that she’s a “spineless councilmember.” Multiple attendees observed Brewer shaking hands with cops after they brutally arrested 4.

The dweebs got a personal noise demo in their procession back to the church.

Everybody wants to have a barricade but the NYPD won’t share :(

Because the barricades worked so well, a lot of clinic defenders managed to get into the procession and in between the barricades, where they proceeded to chant “Fuck you fascists.”

SRG leaves.