disinformation | anti-abortion violence

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anti-abortion violence
by Russ Kick (russ@mindpollen.com) - March 04, 2001

Anti-abortion terrorism reached something of a crescendo in 1998. Dr. Bernard Slepian was murdered when a sniper shot him through the kitchen window of his Buffalo, New York home. An explosive device packed with nails killed a security guard and maimed a nurse at a women's clinic in Birmingham, Alabama. So-called "pro-life" forces splattered 19 women's clinics with butyric acid and started the tactic of sending letters allegedly containing Anthrax to clinics. The corporate media covered these events, but their attention waned in 1999 and completely disappeared in 2000.

But that doesn't mean anti-abortion violence has stopped. No one has died since 1998, but it isn't for lack of trying. The latest victim is Dr. Garson Romalis, who was knifed in the back on July 11 as he walked to his medical office in Vancouver. He survived the attack and is expected to recover fully. Meanwhile, his assailant remains at large. This isn't the first time Romalis almost met a violent death because of his profession. In 1994 he became the first person to be shot by a sniper in a series of shootings that occurred in Canada and New York around the time of Canadian Remembrance Day (November 11) over the course of several years. (Slepian was the fifth and, so far, last victim of this cluster of shootings. He was also the first fatality.)

This year (2000) has also seen two arsons - a relatively minor one in Florida and a very damaging one at the Concord (New Hampshire) Feminist Health Center. On January 3, 2000, officials defused homemade bombs at a women's clinic and a Planned Parenthood office in Cincinnati, Ohio. Another homemade explosive device failed to detonate outside a clinic in Southern Florida in June. And the use of anthrax hoax letters continues unabated, with numerous clinics in at least 21 states receiving them so far this year.

Though you may not have heard about it, 1999 was also no picnic for abortion providers. The media yawned while three clinics were bombed, over 30 clinics received anthrax hoax letters, and six were set ablaze. (The man charged with trying to torch Planned Parenthood of New Mexico had just been released from the slammer after doing time for the arson of a clinic in 1995.) Clinic arsons doubled, and bomb threats rose slightly, while attempted murders, assaults, and death threats declined during that year.

To make matters worse, it appears that anti-abortion extremists are widening their scope. The day after Romalis was stabbed, Dr. Ellen Wiebe - also in Vancouver - received a telephone death threat. Wiebe does not provide abortions, but she had announced to the media that she is participating in testing trials for RU-486 (the so-called "abortion pill"). I haven't heard of other researchers involved with RU-486 being threatened or attacked, but this is a sign that they should watch their backs and keep a low profile.

It's seems safe to say that anti-abortion terrorism won't be disappearing anytime soon. Some extremists have applauded the attack on Romalis, and one stated that he's praying for the doctor's death. It should not be forgotten that Eric Rudolph - wanted in connection with the bombings of the Olympic Park, a family planning clinic, and a lesbian nightclub - is still on the lam. So is James Kopp, who is suspected of playing a role in Slepian's death and the shootings of four other doctors around Remembrance Day.

The problem has not gone away. Only the coverage has.

Feminist Majority Foundation Resources on Clinic Violence
Probably the best way to keep tabs on anti-abortion violence. Yearly violence surveys stretching back to 1993, plus monthly reports and some good links.

National Abortion Federation: Clinic Violence
Another excellent source of info.

Alternative Pro-Life Links
The best collection of links to radical anti-abortion activist sites I've seen. From picketers and blockaders to those who come within a hair's-breadth of advocating murder.

The Abortion Rights Activist: Clinic Violence
The information needs updating, but this site earns its keep as a guide to the violent people and organizations fighting abortion. Some statements and writings are included. Loses a triangle because a lot of the pages are 404.

10 Things You Can Do to Stop Clinic Violence
From Planned Parenthood.

The Ultimate Pro-Life Resource List
Just to remind you that the majority of people who are against abortion do not condone violence, I provide a link to a big, informative pro-life site.

In Their Own Words: Statements Of Imprisoned Anti-Abortion Activists
Letters, statements, and writings from imprisoned anti-abortion extremists--including a vandal, two arsonists and a murderer. Includes Should We Defend Unborn Children with Force? by Paul Hill, currently on Death Row for killing Dr. John Bayard Britton and his escort, James H. Barrett, in front of a clinic in Pensacola.

Planned Parenthood: Stop the Violence
A sparse collection of "statements and essays on clinic violence." You would think that Planned Parenthood would do a better job than this, considering their offices and clinics are targeted on a regular basis.

The Abortion Rights Activist: Army of God
Presents lots of excerpts from the infamous Army of God manual on committing violence against abortion clinics and doctors.

The Nuremberg Files
The Nuremberg Files was a Web site containing the names, addresses, pictures, vehicle numbers, etc. of people involved in abortions - doctors, staff, politicians, etc. It was implicated in a successful US$107 million civil suit against people who had allegedly threatened abortion providers and was forced off the Internet. At this site, Dutch writer Karin Spaink mirrors the main page, while Jonathan Wallace, author of Sex, Lies, and Cyberspace, offers his legal opinion on the ruling.

The National Abortion & Reproductive Rights Action League
Very thin on information, but their one factsheet is pretty good.

Prisoners of Christ
A listing of "political prisoners" being held for anti-abortion activities that range from sidewalk counseling all the way to murder.

Reproductive Health & Rights Center
Collection of links regarding incidents and statistics. No original information to speak of and lots, if not most, of the links are dead.

Radical Pro-Aborts Threaten Pro-Life Families
Disturbing posting to talk.abortion Usenet group that calls for meeting violence with violence. Every time an abortion provider is killed, the family of a violent anti-abortion extremist will be killed. It's impossible to tell if this is real, fantasy, disinformation, a frame-up, etc.

Jay's Killer Web Page
The Nuremberg Files site may be gone (for all practical purposes), but check out its little cousin, which does much the same thing for Florida abortion providers - home and work addresses, license plates, photos, and more. Scary as shit.

Prayer & Action News' Abortion Page
Some pro-murder material. Because of the Nuremberg Files case, they've pulled down their most extreme stuff, but you can email them to receive copies of the Army of God's manual, Why I Shot John Britton by Paul Hill, and a "book by Johnny Brockhoeft, who served several years for burning down the Molech Temple operated by the inventor of the 'Partial Birth Abortion'."

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