Brooklyn, N.Y. -- This Saturday, October 9, at 8:00 A.M., pro-choice Brooklynites and others will rally to show the Bishop Thomas V. Daily of Brooklyn and Queens, and the Helpers of God's Precious Infants, that they are not welcome in front of a clinic that performs abortions as well as other health care services. Organized by the Brooklyn Pro-Choice Network, the demonstration is cosponsored by a a spectrum of organizations, including (list still in formation): NOW-NYC, Brooklyn NOW, NARAL-NY, Refuse & Resist!, NY News & Letters Committees, the Lambda Independent Democrats, Barnard-Columbia Students for Choice, and Church Ladies for Choice.

On Saturday, Bishop Daily will bring his monthly "Vigil for Life" to the Ambulatory Surgery Center, in cooperation with the Helpers of God's Precious Infants. October 9 marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Helpers, by Msgr. Philip J. Reilly, a priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens. For 10 years, the Helpers, their "prayer supporters," and aggressive "sidewalk counselors" have harassed women and their companions entering and leaving the Ambulatory Surgery Center, 5 days a week. The ASC has been unable to secure adequate enforcement of existing NYC and Federal clinic-access legislation, or a buffer zone as allowed by the NYPD.

For 10 years, pro-choice Brooklynites and other New Yorkers have responded by also being on the sidewalk, escorting patients into the clinic past the "sidewalk counselors" and "prayer supporters" with their gory sidewalk pictures and leaflets.

To further discourage attendance at Bishop Daily's vigil, NOW-NYC's "pledge-a-picket" campaign is asking members to pledge a penny to a dollar for each anti-choice vigil participant who turns out. Proceeds will be donated to pro-choice organizations.