PORTLAND, Maine - Planned Parenthood of Northern New England's clinic in downtown Portland will temporarily use paid staffers to replace volunteer greeters to help patients find their way around anti-abortion protesters.
The Portland Press Herald reports that the women's health clinic is citing safety concerns in making the change. Vice President Nicole Clegg says the organization is motivated to change its greeting policy because of a nationwide climate of hostility against Planned Parenthood.
Clegg also says clinic employees and a Portland police officer will be on hand to ensure women can access the clinic for services. The clinic is the site of protests every Friday morning.
Planned Parenthood locations have expressed concerns about security since November shootings at a Colorado clinic that killed three people and injured nine others.