A small group of anti-abortion activists gathered for a prayer vigil outside the Planned Parenthood clinic in San Francisco on Saturday, Feb. 11. They were part of a nationwide demonstration, calling for the elimination of funding for Planned Parenthood.
But, as in several other cities, the quiet demonstration in San Francisco was overwhelmed by hundreds of counter-protesters, chanting and shouting into bullhorns.
In the days before the rally, Planned Parenthood had asked counter protesters not to come, or to demonstrate at a different location, to avoid an angry confrontation that would make patients feel unsafe.
In the midst of an otherwise tense standoff, two San Francisco women reached across the aisle. Anti-abortion protester Eva Muntaen and an abortion rights protester called out to each other. They said they wanted to talk -- to understand each other and maybe find some common ground. A police officer allowed the anti-abortion activist to cross the sidewalk, and the two women gave permission to record their conversation:
