Abortion rights advocates spent hours holding signs that read "Honk 4 choice," "If you cut off my reproductive choice, can I cut off yours?" and "The vows of abstinence break more easily than latex condoms," on Saturday.

The group of about 20 people rallied in front of State College Medical Services, 900 W. College Ave., in honor of the National Day of Appreciation for Abortion Providers.

Lindsey Cecelia LaBella (senior-animal bioscience) said the rally was part of a service project for a women's studies class. "We're going to have the people who come to the rally sign papers that say 'Thank you,' which we'll put on the card and give to the clinic workers," she said. "We're doing this for the clinic workers who risk their lives to come out here."

Created in 1986, the actual day of appreciation is March 10, which is the anniversary of the day Dr. David Gunn, an abortion provider, was killed by an anti-abortion rights activist.

An equal amount of anti-abortion advocates came to protest the rally.

"I'm here because they're killing babies in there. Abortion hurts women -- the women cannot live with the regret," said Constance Engel of Williamsport. "Most women who feel that way did not know they were killing babies."

Gregory Laplante (senior-recreation, park and tourism management) is the outreach coordinator for Students for Life, and said he visits the clinic every Saturday in hopes of stopping women who are thinking of getting abortions. "I do it to show people in town that there's an abortion clinic here and to show that there are alternatives and other options," he said.

Ronnie, a nurse and director of the sexually transmitted disease program at State College Medical Services, said protesters are there often. Ronnie's last name is being withheld because she said she has received threats of violence and threatening letters from anti-abortion advocates. "[Anti-abortion advocates] focus on the fact that we provide reproductive services for women," she said. "We also offer free STD/HIV screenings and treatment. We offer free vaccines and pap smears. We do other things besides terminations." Ronnie said she isn't afraid to do her job. "Women will do anything to terminate unwanted pregnancies," she said. "We'll be open as long as there's a need for us. We're here for [women's] physical health and mental health as well."

Erin Hearn (junior-psychology) said she came to show support for clinic workers. "They put their lives at risk for us," she said. "They try to help us, so we should support them. It's rare that someone would put their life in danger to help someone else."

Ronnie said she is used to the constant protest from anti-abortion rights advocates. "Pro-lifers say the promiscuity on campus is due to offices like us," she said. "It's nobody's business other than the person who's walking through these doors. I think there's three reasons a woman should come in here: rape, incest and her own reason, and that's good enough for me."