Meet Ollie, PROchoice Member of the Month: March
By Cassidy Thompson, Organizing Manager
Meet Ollie Morris (they/them) an abortion activist that works in Duluth, Minnesota.
In this interview, Ollie shares their inspiring story as a clinic escort, abortion clinic medical assistant, and abortion fund member. Ollie also talks about the obstacles they've faced as an activist, but also highlights the moments of pride and joy that keep them motivated. Their story is a testament to the importance of fighting for reproductive freedom, and a reminder of the incredible resilience of those who do so.
Q: Can you tell us about your different roles in abortion activism?
A: I'm involved in a few different roles. I'm a leader with the Duluth chapter of RFAN (Reproductive Freedom Action Network), a medical assistant at the WE Health Clinic, the independent abortion clinic in duluth, I assist with managing the Volunteer Duluth Clinic Escort Program, and I'm a member of the HOTDISH Militia, Duluth’s local abortion fund that is entirely volunteer-run.
Q: What does reproductive freedom mean to you?
A: To me, reproductive freedom means that everyone in Minnesota, including those who travel to the state, should be able to access reproductive health care, especially abortion care, without facing any restrictions or stigma. No one should be prevented from making decisions about their own body and their own future.
Q: How did you get involved in activism around abortion care?
A: I actually got involved because of my own experiences with anti-abortion protestors. I was participating in a Black Lives Matter protest in Duluth, and had to walk past the protestors. They were screaming at me, and I didn't realize at the time that they were anti-abortion protestors. I kept seeing them week after week, and eventually saw a post on Facebook advertising for a clinic escort training. I knew that I wanted to do something to support patients and providers, so I took the training.
Q: Why did you continue taking on more roles in your activism?
A: While escorting at the clinic, I realized just how lucky we are to have an abortion provider in our own community - and there was a clear need to rally the community around this issue. I wanted to coordinate all the different efforts to show up more for our clinic. I was inspired by seeing a small crew of escorts that continued to come week after week, and I was so welcomed in their clinic escort community. During COVID, they continued to show up at the clinic for our patients. One of my friends began working in the clinic and talked about how life-changing it is to provide direct patient care - I realized that I wanted to work in the clinic too.
Q: What is your most memorable experience from your time as a clinic escort?
A: One thing that stands out to me is how the protestors began treating me differently when I started working in the clinic. When I first started working inside the clinic, I would escort for a few hours and then head inside. The protestors became obsessed with me once they realized that I was going upstairs to provide abortion care and in their eyes, had “graduated” to the next level from escorting. Going to work is difficult now - they scream my name at me and write messages to me in the snow on my car. But I'm proud to be involved in patient care and to have the trust of the medical providers I work with.
Q: Can you share a memorable patient experience?
A: One patient experience that continues to stand out to me happened right after Roe was overturned. At WE Health Clinic, patients are able to view their pregnancy tissue after an abortion if they would like to. I watched as Dr. Johnson showed a patient their fetal tissue - and the patient told her to mail it to the Supreme Court. It was a powerful moment and a reminder of why this work is so important.
Q: How do the different aspects of your activism intersect?
A: Providing and advocating for abortion care is extremely interconnected. The protestors have a significant impact on the patients, who need money to access their abortion, which is funded by HOTDISH, and our clinic always needs support. It's all connected and it all matters.
Q: What are you most proud of in your activism and care work?
A: After the overturn of Roe, everyone needed an outlet for their activism. I organized a punk show we organized at the Chester rink that raised over $2,500 for the clinic. It was pouring rain, and tons of people still came out. 50-100 showed up and hid in the hockey area that was covered - but they didn't leave.
I'm also proud of the interactions I get to have with patients all throughout the day. I'm really honored to be a part of their care and to listen to their stories. Most of the patients I remember. I remember the things that they tell me, and the things that they teach me. It's a reminder of why we do this work and why it's so important to fight for reproductive freedom.