The abortion issue is important to many in the United States and has been brought up again, not least in the autumn election campaign and through the election of the conservative Amy Coney Barett as a judge in the Supreme Court.

Many opponents of abortion see the appointment of a judge as an opportunity to overturn a ruling from 1973 that established the right to free abortion. 

"Worse for women under Trump"

Yashica Robinson is a doctor at one of the few abortion clinics left in Alabama.

In Documents from outside: The battle over abortions, she talks about an increasing threat from extreme abortion opponents. 

- During the Trump administration, the situation has become worse for women.

More anti-abortion laws have been voted on.

I myself notice that the harassment has increased, that the demonstrators feel strengthened, says Yashica Robinson. 

Sharp increase in harassment

The National Abortion Federation reports sharp increases in harassment of abortion clinics.

In 2019, they recorded more than 1,500 cases of trespassing, which is the highest figure since they began measuring just over 20 years ago.

Hatmail and harassing phone calls increased by 125 percent between 2018 and 2019 - from 1388 to 3123. Staff abuse increased from 15 to 24 cases.

It often happens that protesters try to prevent staff and patients from going to the clinic.

According to them, NAF represents clinics that together take care of more than half of the women who undergo abortions in the USA and Canada each year.

Protects against snipers

Since 1993, at least 11 people have been murdered in attacks on abortion clinics.

One of them was Dr. George Tiller who was shot to death by an anti-abortion fanatic in Kansas in 2009. Today, Julie Burkhart runs the clinic. 

- The building has been bombed and flooded.

A death threat is still shocking because it was so rude: Follow me, drag me out of the car and beat me to pieces, says Julie Burkhart.

The clinic has only a few windows which, from a safety point of view, are very high.   

- If we were to encounter a sniper, it would be safer for the staff.

Do you want to know more?

Entire Documents from outside: The battle over abortions is on SVT Play.