I received a call from one of the people from the RCP and Refuse and Resist who were out at the Moscone Center this afternoon. I went out to take some photos. R+R's sources had said that OR had been out there since 6am. That explains why, when I got there, I saw that most of the Operation Rescue people were sitting on the curb! As I walked around the area, I saw several families with young kids and signs snacking and shopping.

Joey Johnson struck up a conversation with the guy who was holding the "Execute All Murdering Abortionists" sign. It turns out that this guy is against violence and capital punishment! I asked the guy what the bible verse that is cited on the sign is. He said that he didn't know! I asked him why he would hold a sign if he didn't even know what it was about. His answer was not very satisfactory. Apparently he was from somewhere in the sierras. Can you imagine driving 4 or 5 hours to hold up a sign that you didn't understand or even believe in?!

R+R's sources said that the conference starts at 9am on Monday, and that Monday will be the main day for which Operation Rescue is moblizing its forces. They could arrive as early as 6, or, obviously, as late as 9am. I think that it would be a good idea for pro-choice people to come out as much as possible in the next few days to support the Obstetricians and Gynecologists who are performing important services to women- in addition to helping women to make and carry out decisions about their bodies and reproduction, they are also the people who give regular checkups and support women from the pregnancy test to the delivery room! If people come out on Monday morning, they can counter OR's message and show that San Francisco does, as the sign in the photo suggests, welcome ACOG!

More about OR and ACOG: http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/05/1736301.php