Anti-Abortion Protesters Blockade Family Planning Clinic for 7 Hours

A physician was prevented from opening his East Los Angeles family planning clinic and a janitor was trapped in the building for more than seven hours Saturday by about 100 Operation Rescue members who blockaded the entrances.

The anti-abortion protesters held up posters, sang and prayed in front of the American Best Family Planning Clinic at 4055 Whittier Blvd. from 8 a.m. until they were dispersed by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies shortly after 3 p.m.

“I lost 14 patients today,” complained clinic owner Dr. Mike Hamad. “They wouldn’t even let the dentist (who shares the building) in.”

Hamad said five patients who had arrived for their appointments waited in the lobby of a nearby hospital for several hours. Eventually, all but one left for other clinics. Hamad said he terminated the pregnancy of the remaining woman, who entered the clinic after the crowd was dispersed.

While the protest discouraged women from entering the clinic, 60-year-old janitor Charlie Chapman was too afraid to get out. He had been in the building since 6 a.m., and was afraid to open a back gate, where about 20 protesters blocked the way.

“They said they would move, but every time I went toward the gate, they never moved,” Chapman said. “If I went out there and one hit me I’d have to hit them back. I didn’t want to go to jail.

“I’ve never been through anything like this before,” added Chapman, who said he spent all day dusting.

Sheriff’s spokesman Dean Scoville said Hamad’s indecision about filing a complaint for trespassing against the Operation Rescue members caused the delay in dispersing the protesters. Finally, Dr. Woody Geller, a dentist whose offices are also in the building, agreed to sign the complaint.