Pro-choice protestors stood outside the governor’s mansion for a demonstration and candlelight vigil to protest a bill that they say restricts access to abortion centers in North Carolina.  

The bill requires abortion clinics to adopt regulations that have historically been applied to ambulatory surgery centers. Currently, only one abortion center in the state meets the new requirements. 

The bill also requires pregnant women to take abortion medication under a doctor’s supervision, allows health care providers to opt out of performing abortions if they object, and eliminates abortion insurance coverage for city and county employees.

Opponents say the bill endangers women’s health and restricts women’s rights. Protesters at Tuesday’s vigil, which was organized by Planned Parenthood of North Carolina, waved signs and chanted, “Pat, Pat, Seal Your Fate, Biggest Liar in the State,” referring to the fact that Gov. Pat McCrory signed the bill despite promising not to restrict abortions during his campaign. 

After signing the bill on Monday, the governor released a statement defending his decision. 

“This law does not further limit access, and those who contend it does are more interested in politics than the health and safety of our citizens,” McCrory said.

On Wednesday, McCrory left the governor’s mansion flanked by four armed guards to deliver a plate of cookies to protestors. He reportedly went as far as the middle of the street between his mansion and the vigil, called over Chapel Hill resident Jamie Sohn, and handed her the plate. 

The protestors did not take this as a gesture of goodwill, Many found it patronizing instead.

“I heard he was heading out the door with a box of aprons, but someone told him that was too obvious,” one commenter said on Planned Parenthood’s Facebook page. 

“At least he didn’t pat them on the head and ask them to run along,” said Adam  Linker in a Progressive Pulse article. 

Protestors said McCrory wouldn’t have made such a gesture to a group of majority-male protestors. They conveyed this sentiment in an on-the-spot slogan, “Pat, Pat, Shame on You, You Wouldn’t Give Cookies to a Bunch of Dudes.” 

They returned the cookies uneaten with a note reading, “Will take women’s health over cookies!” 

Anti-abortion advocates, meanwhile, have praised the bill. 

“We are very happy with the governor’s signing of SB353,” said Barbara Holt, President of North Carolina Right to Life. “This law accomplishes the goals we set out to achieve this session.”