The Center

The Center is the main setting of the novel where the shooting occurs. It is a bright orange building surrounded by a fence located in Mississippi. Vonita, the woman who runs the Center, had painted it orange so that it stood out proudly as a place where women could go for help. The Center offers abortion services, but it also provides women with other kinds of reproductive health services, including birth control and regular exams.

The Center is surrounded every day by abortion protestors. They stand outside the building shouting to the women as they enter the building. They pass out “goodie bags” filled with knitted baby booties and pamphlets against abortion. Because of the protestors, the Center employs people who serve as escorts to help women get into the building.

Command Tent

The police set up a command tent outside the Center where Hugh works from...