Abortion clinic worker: Stop targeting me and my co-workers

Abortion staff

As a staff member at a N.C. abortion clinic, my colleagues and I have long dealt with harassment and violence — from protesters posting our private information online, to vitriol directed at us as we come to work, to threats communicated to us and our families. This kind of harassment is an occupational hazard for providing legal, necessary and compassionate care to our patients.

In recent years it has escalated nationwide. This year, Knoxville, Tenn. clinic was burned to the ground and a man in Michigan was recently charged with setting fire to another clinic.

Protesters have brought guns outside our clinics, and we are all too aware of providers who’ve been murdered for this work.

We know our job comes with these dangers, but we continue this work because we are committed to our patients. Patients and staff deserve better than to have to walk a gauntlet of harassment when seeking and providing healthcare.

We know more than most what it’s like to be targeted and demonized because of our work. We don’t wish that on anyone, and hope that even those who don’t agree with our work extend that same sentiment to us.

Amber Gavin, Raleigh

Zoning rules

Regarding “Tensions, hope collide ahead of vote on changes to zoning rules,’ (Aug. 15):

I urge the Charlotte City Council to require developers of large projects to spend their own money to add turn lanes to existing roads. Not doing so causes existing turning lanes to be blocked when vehicles are trying to get in or out of new developments, which causes traffic back-ups and/or hazards. Charlotte traffic has become increasingly snarled and one contributing factor is the city’s density due to in-fill housing. Requiring this of developers going forward would greatly diminish future snarls and road hazards.

Kee Marshall, Charlotte

Fix this crossing

Last week I witnessed a horrific accident at the light-rail pedestrian crossing at Remount Road. It was only a matter of time. I watched as a young woman was hit and sent cartwheeling into the air by a car traveling 30-40 mph through the crossing. The driver who failed to yield was arrested. The bright green pavement and signage do not stop drivers who refuse to yield to pedestrians. As a Charlotte Realtor, I’m acutely aware this issue will get worse as more new construction is occupied in South End. For the safety of all, I urge city leaders to find solutions to this deadly problem.

Sean Kilbane, Charlotte

NC reps

The Inflation Reduction Act could be one of the most important bills of the century with its ability to combat climate change, reduce healthcare costs and raise taxes on the wealthy. I have to wonder where was the GOP?

The following N.C. representatives in Congress did not even show up and voted by proxy: Ted Budd, Dan Bishop, Madison Cawthorn, Richard Hudson, Patrick McHenry, Kathy Manning and David Price.

Budd is running for a Senate seat, a six-year term. Voters should ask what are the Ted Budds doing for North Carolina if they don’t even show up to vote? The people of N.C. deserve representatives who show up, listen to us, and at least try to push through legislation to the benefit of the American people.

Jim Fortner, Charlotte

Reclaim the GOP

The only solution to restore sanity to politics is to vote Republicans out of office at the local, state and national level. Call it a sacrifice to reclaim a party that’s so extreme its leaders won’t speak out against calls for civil war. Who among us truly believes the only fair elections are the ones your candidate wins? Winning at all costs is not the best solution for a democracy. It’s incumbent upon voters to pull leaders back to where the majority of citizens wish them to be — rational, sensible and focused on legislation that addresses the pressing needs of the country, rather than old grievances.

Dianne Mason, Matthews

Dan Bishop

I received US Rep. Dan Bishop’s weekly update and I’m concerned about his position on the FBI search, calling it “an unprecedented abuse of power…reminiscent of a third-world banana republic.” Instead of calling for calm while leaders discover whether illegal activity took place, Bishop and others have chosen to sow fear and promote anger and distrust in government — and possibly incite violence — without evidence to support their incendiary claims. Bishop knows in his heart what’s right and wrong. I ask nothing more of him than to simply place the well-being of our country ahead of all other motivations. Our divided nation desperately needs that kind of principled leadership.

Sam Hatcher, Matthews

‘Deplorable?’ Yes.

I agree with the assertion that the search at Trump’s home was “deplorable,” as an Aug. 14 Forum writer said.

For the former president to remove numerous boxes of paperwork from the White Hose, some classified, was deplorable. For those documents to be stored in his basement was deplorable. When questioned about them the Trump team finally provided 15 boxes to the National Archives, then signed a document saying there were no more, which proved untrue. Deplorable. The search of his home turned up 20 more boxes, some with classified materials. Again, deplorable.

Peter Snyder, Charlotte