The day started hot and muggy, in bright sunshine. About 15 people showed up to defend just on the basis of news reports. Roberta Sampere (a clinic defense director) thanks those who came, and suggested people go home, because 1) we didn't want to give the Klan an audience that would encourage them to return and 2) the Federal Marshals were there to protect the clinic, and a crowd of defenders would only complicate matters should any action be required. Half a dozen decided to leave, especially after being told the Klan was not scheduled to arrive until 11AM. Those who elected to stay promised to be non-confrontational.
The festivities got off to an start with a local paper calling the police, passing along a bomb threat that a "landmine" had been hidden the previous night on the clinic grounds. The police requested everyone stay off the grass until they had inspected the property. Nothing was found.
At 10AM, the usual contingent of Catholics appeared with their statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Apparently they didn't heed the suggestion of the local Operation Rescue leaders to stay away. They stayed to say their round of Hail Mary's, but left before the Klan arrived.
The Aware Woman clinic is located on the corner of Dixie Way and US1. But the lot is not on the same level as US1. Instead there is a ditch and a berm about 10 feet high between US1 and the clinic. A few minutes after the scheduled 11AM time, the Klan walked south along US1 from the next road north, to the corner of Dixie way. They then lined up behind the police barricades to display themselves.
There was more cops than klan and more press than cops. There were 9 members initially. 7 wearing sheets, one in biker regalia with klan symbols, and the organizer, John Baumgardener, in a black Che' Guarvera(sp?) tee-shirt with the legend "rage against the machine". Later the group was joined by several skinheads.
Most Klan members carried a sign, with the exception of the biker, who carried a Confederate battle flag and J.D. Alder resplendent in his purple robes holding a heraldic lion flag. None of the signs mentioned abortion. (Baumgardener claimed credit for unifying the focus of the group). Instead the signs read things like "BIG SISTER FEDERAL TYRANNY", "RENO CALL OFF THE SHOCK TROOPS", "WHO'S AFRAID OF THE BIG BAD FED", "MARSHAL, THIS AIN'T DODGE CITY", and the ever popular "FED GO HOME"
A prime goal seemed to be a membership drive because they were passing out newsletters and business cards with membership info, and displayed a sign reading "Florida is KLAN Country (407) 878-1111".
For the most part, Operation Rescue was not in attendance. The two members who were around commonly reside in the house across the street from the clinic, and they seemed most concerned about documenting on videotape the fact that none of their local members were in the klan group than anything else.
I heard few angry words, from either klan or spectators. There were a few zingers said like "Ever think of joining the Klan? There is nothing sexier than a woman in a klan robe" or "We're not anti anything, just pro-white." Most jeers came from passing vehicles will people calling out "Klan go home" or flipping the bird. It was interesting to hear Mr Baumgardener trying to explain to a writer from the socialist paper, The MILITANT, that the Klan encompassed socialist principles.
The march ended shortly before its scheduled 12:30 ending, hastened by a thunder shower. My impression was of a small group of people taking advantage of the situation at the clinic to get themselves into the press. They never went near the clinic entrance, and rarely even mentioned the word abortion. Certainly they got more press than they were worth. Hopefully this does not inspire them to a repeat performance.