Calla Hales: CEO Defends Abortion Clinics Amid Harassment and Threats

This story first appeared in Cardinal & Pine

Calla Hales, the CEO of A Preferred Women’s Health Centers, has faced numerous challenges, including bomb threats and harassment, in her pursuit to provide abortion services across the South. Her clinics operate in Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina, and Augusta and Atlanta, Georgia.

Since the legalization of abortion in 1973, 11 abortion providers and clinic staff have been murdered across the US and Canada, while another 26 have suffered injuries from various attacks. Despite these threats, Hales remains steadfast in her mission.

The Journey of Calla Hales

During her pregnancies, Hales endured severe complications, including hyperemesis gravidarum, a condition marked by extreme nausea and vomiting. Her challenges didn’t end there. After her first C-section, she faced internal bleeding, exacerbated by a blood shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hales’s experiences reinforced her pro-choice stance, highlighting the inherent dangers of childbirth, especially in a country like the US, which has the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income nations.

Hales emphasizes the relative safety of abortion compared to other medical procedures, noting the significantly lower risk of abortion-related deaths.

The overturning of Roe v. Wade during her second pregnancy was a turning point, reducing choices for many women, a reality she deems unjust.

A Legacy of Care

The inception of the first abortion clinic by Hales’s parents in 1998 was driven by tragedy when a friend, unable to secure an abortion after a sexual assault, took her own life. This personal connection to the cause has deeply influenced Hales’s path.

Raised in a family that valued privacy due to their work, Hales learned to navigate life with caution. Her parents’ profession was not openly discussed, and security measures were a constant part of her upbringing.

Adaptation and Resilience

Following college, Hales joined her family’s clinics, initially handling administrative tasks. Her role evolved over the years, eventually leading to her becoming the CEO. The journey was not without its challenges, especially in adapting to the financial struggles faced by many patients.

With abortion bans spreading across Southern states, Hales’s clinics often serve patients traveling from afar, seeking care they can no longer access locally.

Protests outside clinics by groups like “Love Life” are a regular occurrence, yet Hales and her team have adapted over time, working with organizations like Charlotte for Choice to ensure patient safety.

Commitment and Challenges

The work of providing abortion care is fraught with personal risk, but for Hales, it remains a calling. Her commitment is further fueled by the inequities she witnesses, such as racial profiling and immigration-related detentions affecting her staff and patients.

Despite the challenges, Hales draws strength from the support of her community and the impact her work has on the lives of many. Her resolve remains firm: to keep her clinics open and accessible, providing critical care amidst increasing restrictions.