12th & Delaware

In the heart of Greenville, Fort Pierce, a city in Florida, stands a small storefront. It was once a humble thrift store but has been transformed into Choice Medical Clinic, a women's clinic where the right to choose is at the forefront of its mission. The clinic's location on 12th and Delaware streets has put it directly in the crosshairs of anti-abortion activists, who see this place as an affront to their deeply held values. Filmmaker Rachel Grady decided to focus her camera on 12th and Delaware, where the abortion debate is not just a theoretical concept but a daily reality. Grady, a member of the acclaimed documentary team The Story of Stuff and Jesus Camp, delves into the lives of the people caught in the vortex of this struggle. On one side, we have the women who seek out abortions, including several who are forced to navigate the treacherous waters of clinic politics in order to access their reproductive rights. These women are often subjected to the taunting words and invasive behaviors of protesters who claim to be protecting the lives of the unborn. They must navigate through an environment where the very presence of the clinic seems to have reduced their rights and agency. One particularly striking figure is a woman who is already a mother, now expecting her fifth child but desperate to end her latest pregnancy due to her current personal circumstances and financial situation. On the other side of the divide, the clinic's medical staff, led by clinic director Dr. Willie Parker, must face the relentless barrage of anti-abortion protests each and every day. Their work is not only challenging but also under threat as they navigate the complex web of clinic regulations and local politics. Dr. Parker, a respected doctor who began volunteering at the clinic after the landmark Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade, finds himself at the forefront of this heated battle. One woman, Dr. Parker's friend, and a former clinic employee is Maribeth Bogar, she who has experienced an extraordinary transformation in her life after serving as a counselor in the clinic's counseling services. She now is the president of a pro-life group. Her presence in the film raises questions about whether someone's position on abortion is in any way a fixed aspect of their worldview or if there is any room for change and compassion. The battle at 12th and Delaware is not just a clash of ideologies; it's also a battle of wills. Anti-abortion protesters, who set up permanent camp outside the clinic, attempt to disrupt operations at every turn. They often intimidate the staff, patients, and those associated with the clinic, forcing the clinic to resort to extreme security measures to ensure the safety of the people inside. Clinic personnel are constantly on the lookout for protesters armed with cameras capturing their every move. Rachel Grady's documentary is not simply a portrayal of the abortion struggle; it's an examination of the complexities and the human cost of this conflict. By focusing on the people, both patients and clinic workers, who are impacted by the presence of this clinic, Grady sheds light on an often-neglected topic. Grady brings to the surface the emotional toll taken by both sides of this conflict, a toll that is frequently overlooked as a result of the polarized and heated nature of the debate. In a film that eschews talking heads in favor of intimate, observational footage, the story of the clinic at 12th and Delaware unfolds as a poignant, powerful narrative that captures the essence of a protracted and complex conflict.