"Demonstrators gather outside the Peters Creek Road clinic each Tuesday morning - when Planned Parenthood performs abortions. The clinic has drawn protesters for years, but it hasn't been until recently that they've been clustering on the street, said David Nova, president and chief executive officer [of Planned Parenthood of the Blue Ridge].

Nova said there have been two recent vehicle accidents near the clinic. In late July, an employee's car was struck from behind when she slowed in the clinic's driveway because protesters were in her way, Nova said. On Aug. 8, a 16-year-old boy hit the car in front of him when, he said, he slowed to look at the gathering of people in front of the clinic.

"[There were] fifty protesters picketing Planned Parenthood in Roanoke on the day they do abortion service." (David Nova, conversation with George Loper, August 23, 2000).

Nova said Thursday that the protesters do not usually cause problems. But, he added, 'when it comes to public safety, I'm concerned that the protesters might get hit, including the children.'

"There were young children carrying 'abortion kills children' signs and holding graphic posters." (David Nova, conversation with George Loper, August 23, 2000).

In the past four weeks, Nova said, demonstrators have ventured into the street's deceleration lane outside the clinic, in the 2200 block of Peters Creek Road - a four-lane highway with a 45 mph speed limit. The clinic has been open at that location since the spring.

Police have received six calls to the clinic since mid-July, said Maj. Jim Day of the Roanoke City Police Department. All but one of the calls were about people standing in the road impeding traffic, he said.

'A month and a half, five calls, it's not where we'd say it's a chronic problem, but it's something we'll certainly keep an eye on,' he said.

Day said that when officers have gone to the clinic, the protesters are where they're supposed to be. Police would be able to make an arrest only if they saw an infraction occur.

'They have a right to picket,' he said. 'They have a right to be there, unless they start to block traffic. If someone comes down the road and isn't paying attention, it could be a problem.'

Roanoke County resident Bobbie Brogan said it was a problem when her 16-year-old son, Charlie, drove along Peters Creek Road last week. She said Charlie slowed down when he saw the cluster of protesters, at first thinking someone had been hurt.

Charlie hit the car in front of him, which was turning in to Planned Parenthood and had slowed to avoid some protesters in the driveway, Bobbie Brogan said. While Brogan said she doesn't dispute that her son was at fault in the accident, for which he was charged with failure to maintain control of his car, she said the wreck probably wouldn't have happened if the protesters hadn't been so close to the road.

'I don't have a problem with protesters, but I do have a problem with them impeding the flow of traffic,' she said. 'It's dangerous having people with large signs too close to the street. I do not believe Charlie would have lost control if he wasn't distracted. ... If they want to protest, protest. But do it the right way.'

Demonstrator outside the Planned Parenthood Clinic in Roanoke with large poster.

Earlene Kinlaw, a Salem resident who regularly protests outside the clinic on Tuesdays, said she always stands at the bus stop and stays out of the street. She did say, however, that there have been some new protesters recently who are still figuring out their boundaries.

...

As far as the protesters' signs being called distracting, Kinlaw said drivers have a responsibility to pay attention.

'I think the bigger question is that people be made aware of what they do on Tuesday mornings,' she said. 'I've been thanked for being there. I really believe our presence is a public service.'

Another Demonstrator Outside of the Clinic.

Still, Day said, Peters Creek Road is a busy street and police will keep an eye on the situation. Chief Atlas 'Joe' Gaskins agreed to meet with Nova next week." (Kimberly O'Brien, The Roanoke Times, August 18, 2000).

Rev. Bruce Murch