The numbers have evened up a little bit from the peak, where there were around 80 anti-abortion protesters, and 35 clinic defenders. Defense has gone up a few more people, and gotten more organized, and the religious bigots have declined somewhat.

The main difference is that the antis have been bringing in carloads of people to replace the ones who are leaving.

Most of the tension has been focused on repelling the antis who try to break the line of defense, to get face-to-face access to people visiting the clinic. At one point an anti, whom one activist characterized as "a minuteman" and a clinic defender almost got into a fight.

On the streets, the defense performed heroically against tough odds. Logistically, however, they were challenged by a larger, well organized, and probably well-funded coalition of right-wing groups attempting to mobilize the evangelical grassroots.

And, if not well funded by the theocratic elements of the right wing, then, personally well funded. By and large, many of these antis were middle class and upper-middle class right-wingers, with nice cars, smartphones, HD video recorders, and expensive-looking hairdos. They were diverse, however, with many Latinos attending and protesting, and some Asians. See below for details.

The Clinic Defense:

http://40days4choice.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL0NcpRsAvg

http://tweetmeme.com/story/175486422/feminists-for-choice-%C2%BB-facebook-group-to-organize-40-days-for-choice

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=141928699336

http://www.guttmacher.org/statecenter/spibs/spib_PAC.pdf

The Antis:

http://www.40daysforlife.com

Their organizing guide:
http://www.40daysforlife.com/docs/40daysforlife.pdf

This movement's board comprises anti-abortion-rights veterans:

James Olson, board chair, teaches intelligence and national securiyt at the George Bush School of Government and Public Services at Texas A&M

Carmen Pate, board secretary, co-host of Point of View, and anti-gay, right wing radio show. http://www.pointofview.net/site/PageServer

Shawn Carney, board treasurer, ED Coalition for Life. Host of EWTN (Eternal World Television Network http://ewtn.com ) show Being Human.

Amber Dolle, board member, anti-Planned-Parenthood activist, former media director of the American Life League, Catholic pro-life group. http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/american-life-league

James Barney Phillips, board member, retired industrial and energy executive with Exxon, El Paso, Tenenco, Champion Chemicals (Imperial Oil Co.), and Koch.

Exploiting the healthcare debate to restrict abortion
Some religious leaders are pushing Obama for more limits on federal abortion funding, By Frances Kissling

http://mobile.salon.com/opinion/feature/2009/09/14/abortion/index.html

Right wing actor/producer Eduardo Verastegui opposed Obama, claiming he was pro-abortion, anti-immigrant, and pro-gay. (In fact, he has been somewhat anti-abortion, anti-immigrant, and anti-gay.)
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/oct/08100108.html

The anti's L.A. web site:
http://www.40daysforlife.com/LosAngeles/index.cfm?active=1

The antis seem to have a lot of money and power, but we have history and truth on our side. The facts are simple: when abortion was illegal, women suffered from back-alley abortions performed in secret. They suffered from chemical or herbal treatments that didn't always work. They suffered from social ostracism and moralistic judgment by an intolerant society.

Ever since abortion has been legal, women have had access to safe abortions. More importantly, people are more willing to discuss issues of contraception, sexual intercourse, and family planning. The number of bad marriages and divorce have declined -- and that's due to couples living together "in sin" before marriage. Nontraditional families (and traditional extended families) are starting to validate the idea that the nuclear family is not the only (or best) type of family. Victims of domestic abuse feel more able to speak up.