CHARLOTTE, N.C. — More than 1,000 people attended a pro-life prayer walk Saturday near an abortion clinic on Latrobe Drive.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police estimated that 1,500 people attended the event put on by Love Life Charlotte.
This week, organizers for the event had called for 7,000 to attend the prayer walk and parade. Opponents of the group called the group “radical” and said it presented difficulties for women seeking medical care at the clinic, including abortions.
“Despite the efforts of a vocal minority, our clinic remains open and will stay open for every person who seeks abortion care,” said Calla Hales, director of A Preferred Women’s Health Center in Charlotte. “This demonstration is yet another example of the scare tactics and intimidation of an emboldened group who threaten public safety by harassing and bullying patients and staff. It's time the City Council stand up for women and say enough is enough."
For its part, Love Life Charlotte insisted that Saturday’s demonstration was not intended to harass or intimidate women seeking medical care at the clinic, but is intended to spur a culture change in the city.
”Today's prayer walk is just the beginning of our work to bring a culture of love and life to Charlotte,” said Justin Reeder, founder of Love Life Charlotte. “The 100-plus churches, and thousands of participants, walking today were challenged to take steps to do more in our city by loving their neighbors.”
Love Life Charlotte has partnered with churches and organizations to provide housing, jobs, baby showers, mentoring and additional resources to more than 800 families that have decided against abortion outside the clinic in Charlotte.
"We don't push them to make a decision because ultimately it is their decision what they do,” one Love Life participant said. “We want them to know that there are other options."
Pro-choice rights activists said the love the nonprofit projects is achieving the opposite.
“The end result is they are here shaming women for a personal healthcare decision,” one clinic escort said. “They know nothing about the personal situation of any of these people and they do nothing here but harass and shame.”
“To go walk in front of a clinic where people are trying to have some privacy and dignity is unkind," another pro-choice rights activist said.
Safety is a concern for the protesters and patients at the clinic that has become a daily stage for protests. Channel 9 has been reporting on demonstrations and issues surrounding the clinic for more than a year.
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Charlotte City Council asked the city manager to study adding possible buffer zones that would ban parking on the street and make changes to noise and sign ordinances outside the clinic.
City leaders said that any changes could potentially result in a lawsuit, and that is what happened.
Almost two weeks ago, the pro-life group Cities-4-Life filed a suit against the city of Charlotte.
The lawsuit claims the city restricts which signs the group can use, even removing them, because the city doesn't agree with its message.
The city has not responded to the lawsuit.
At a demonstration in November after the lawsuit was filed, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers said they do position officers at the clinic on weekends to make sure drivers are not obstructed from accessing the clinic. Officers said they also monitor noise levels to make sure demonstrations adhere to city ordinances.