Sidewalk counselors recently hoped to give flowers to the staff of Bakersfield's abortion chamber as a loving gesture of kindness. However, their compassionate actions were spurned by the FPA management.

Carlotta* prepared 15 flowers in vases, attaching cards with positive messages such as "May God bless you and your family today." She gave one of the flowers to the security guard, whose shift was about to end. He thanked Carlotta and said he would bring the flower home to his wife.

The rest of the flower vases were placed in a box and the box was given to Judy, an FPA employee who has had several friendly conversations with LSM team members. When Judy saw the flowers, she exclaimed "Oh, that's so sweet of you! How nice!"

"We really do care about you," Terri* explained, "we just don't like what you do."

"I know," Judy replied as she carried the box of flowers inside to allow her coworkers to receive flowers.

Within about 10 minutes, Stephanie Verrell (the FPA administrator) walked out carrying the box of flowers, placing the box on the sidewalk as she muttered something about "new life." ("New Life Plants and Flowers," the name of Carlotta's business, was on the side of the box.)

Later Judy explained that Stephanie would not allow them to keep the flowers.

"Perhaps the words 'new life' were too convicting, but we had not intended to be offensive in any way," Terri reflected.