Every person who volunteers as a clinic escort has a reason that keeps them coming back—through the shouting, the judgment, and the storm of opposition. For Justin, it’s hope. Hope that even in the face of relentless hate, a single act of kindness can make someone feel just a little bit safer. In his words, escorting isn’t just an act of service—it’s a way to stay grounded and connected to the good. Here’s why he shows up.
By Justin Schein @ShadowBoxFilms
In 1987, I was a freshman in college in Baltimore when a distraught friend approached me. She had just taken a pregnancy test, and it had come back positive. Although she loved her boyfriend, they were both only 18 and not ready to start a family. A group of us decided to support her by accompanying her to an appointment at Planned Parenthood for an abortion.
When we arrived, we were met by two men standing at the edge of the clinic parking lot, holding signs that read, “Abortion is murder.” They glowered at us menacingly as we walked past. In that moment, I felt relieved that my friend was not alone.
At the time, President Reagan was fully embracing the anti-abortion movement, and Operation Rescue was beginning to organize protests and harass women at clinics across the country. That evening, our group decided to start regularly escorting patients at local clinics to ensure they felt safe and supported. As a budding photographer, I began bringing my camera to document these experiences.
One particular photo I took was outside a clinic located next to Mothers, a boarded-up “gentleman’s club.” The juxtaposition of the two buildings seemed to capture the intensity and complexity of that moment in time.
-Justin