Wisconsin abortion protestors move into downtown Fargo

• Anti-abortion Protestors

As young women came in for appointments to the clinic today, volunteer escorts walked with them through a gathering of the Wisconsin abortion protestors, who quoted the Bible and yelled words like “murder” and “holocaust” as the women entered the clinic.

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• Out of state abortion protestors line Fargo streets

One of downtown Fargo's busiest arteries today became the stage for religious theatre. Abortion protestors from Wisconsin brought their campaign to the front steps of North Dakota's only abortion clinic.

The Wisconsin protestors are still in town; most recently at 25th street and 32nd Avenue south. Because of the expected tension between the abortion protestors and those opposed to their visit, Fargo Police stepped up its very visible presence.

As young women came in for appointments to the clinic today, volunteer escorts walked with them through a gathering of the Wisconsin abortion protestors, who quoted the Bible and yelled words like “murder” and “holocaust” as the women entered the clinic.

Jason Storms – Wisconsin Protestor: “That is our goal. We hope to persuade moms to pursue some alternative choices.”

At one point, an African American volunteer for the clinic says one of the protestors called her a racial slur, but law enforcement's hands were tied because of free speech issues, which became the center of this protest today. It was an attempt by one side to use religion and graphic photos to shut down a clinic, while supporters of women's rights embraced the law.

Katelyn – Patient Escort: “We don't want anyone getting hurt. It doesn’t matter your belief, I don’t want anybody getting hurt out here. The point of the escort is to show the woman and her partner - if she is coming with someone - that there are people who support rights and choices.”

And imagine being businesses like JL Beers on a day like today. Finally the sun is out and so is the patio furniture, but inches away - all of this.

Andrea Williams – JL Beers Manager: “People know about it already. It's not shocking once they get here. Once they're inside their experience is JL Beers, and not JL Beers and the circus.”

Using bullhorns the Wisconsin protestors continued to preach to the women who walked into the clinic. A truck with graphic photos, along with the American and Christian Flags circled downtown the entire morning.

The group is targeting the Dakotas and Wyoming in hopes of creating what it calls abortion free states.

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