PLEDGE A PICKET
Transforming Clinic Harassment into Abortion Funding
Pledge a Picket
The Pledge a Picket campaign was launched for Dr. Carhart’s clinics in response to the unending harassment and intimidation that patients and staff face at these facilities. In an effort to curb harassment while raising money for patients in need, Pledge a Picket serves as a fundraising tool where pro-choice supporters are able to pledge a dollar amount per protestor/sign on any given day outside of our clinics. For example, a supporter could pledge $1 for every protestor at the clinic on Monday.
We hope to publicize our fundraising efforts to the anti-choice protestors to let them know what extent their bullying and bigotry are helping women obtain the abortion care they need. Our long-term goal with this program is to not only fund raise for pregnant people in need, but to eventually reduce the number of protestors outside of the clinics.
Abortion Access Fund, Inc.
The Abortion Access Fund, Inc., A non-profit under the National Network of Abortion Funds, was established January 2nd, 2000, with a mission to develop a fund that could financially underwrite abortion clinics at lower than standard, high risk interest rates and hold the clinic mortgages. The fund will then use the interest income generated to subsidize abortions for low-income women in the form of both grants and loans.
- All proceeds from Pledge A Picket goes directly to patients in need through the Fund.
Carhart
Dr. LeRoy Carhart has been performing abortions since 1970. Dr. Carhart attended Hahnemann Medical College and graduated in 1973. He completed his surgical residency at Hahnemann Hospital and its affiliates and served as Chief Resident, 1977 and 1978 at Atlantic City Medical Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey. Dr. Carhart retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after serving 21 years in the United States Air Force, and now works full time providing abortions, teaching other providers in the techniques of first and second trimester abortions and acting as a consultant to abortion and family planning clinics throughout the United States.
Dr. Carhart has been performing abortions full time since 1988 in Nebraska and other states, and was an associate physician with Dr. George R. Tiller from 1998 until Dr. Tiller’s murder in 2009. After the assassination of Tiller, Carhart vowed to be an outspoken provider of late-term abortions which has caused increased harassment at his clinics and among his colleagues. Even in the face of harassment and stalking, Dr. Carhart is steadfast and committed to helping those who seek abortion care. He was featured in After Tiller, a (Sundance Film Festival 2013 selected) documentary that tells the story of four late-term abortion providers and their patients.
