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Leah627
Leah627Sunday, June 14, 2009 at 5:27:00 PM EDT
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Last week I wrote about my thoughts on abortion following the murder of Doctor Tiller in Wichita, Kansas. I had just witnessed a difficult abortion procedure at a local clinic, and my head reeled from my body’s intense vagal reaction—after leaving the room where the procedure had taken place, I felt nauseous, sweaty, and lightheaded. However, after speaking this week with the doctor who performed the procedure, my thoughts cleared up and I was able to get answers to some questions that I had meant to ask before. I came away from our conversation feeling: a) much better about my unexpectedly intense response (apparently reactions like mine are common even among experienced nurses witnessing procedures that they haven’t seen before), and b) staunchly sure that we need to do everything we can to protect abortion providers and their practices along with women’s right to choose.
Just yesterday I received an email from a nurse at the clinic that I visited. She noted that their clinic “has seen a surge in anti-abortion harassment and intimidation, with new protesters turning up just yesterday.” I asked the doctor with whom I talked this week about the security precautions he takes, if any, to protect himself and his clinic against anti-abortion violence or terrorism. Every week, a local church bulletin advertises for “Pro-Life” advocates to protest outside of the abortion clinic; the protesters often leave women entering the clinic shaken and unnerved.
The doctor, who now has security cameras and other precautionary measures installed at the local clinic, told me of the event that inspired their increased security: He spotted a man in the clinic, who they had assumed to be a supportive boyfriend or father, harassing a woman waiting to receive services. When the doctor approached him and asked him to leave, the man resisted and punched the doctor—a physical battle ensued, with the nurses holding the man down and the receptionist calling 911. Here, though, is the worst part: when the police department answered the 911 call and the abortion clinic receptionist explained the situation, the police end responded with, “Well the doctor must have been doing something that the intruder didn’t approve of.” The fact that the police department didn’t come to the aid of the abortion clinic swiftly, efficiently, and without question (they eventually did come), scares and frustrates me, and brings me back to the consideration of the broad implications of Dr. Tiller’s recent murder.
The doctor pointed out that anti-abortion violence tends to increase dramatically during pro-choice presidencies. Anti-abortion activists, he noted, go on the defensive when they don’t have someone in their court in the Oval Office. Let’s hope that the recent terrorism in Wichita can serve as a catalyst for continued pro-choice legislation, rather than appeasement of Pro-Life groups.
I would like to share some words from Dr. Warren Hern, excerpted from a recent letter to President Obama in the wake of Dr. Tiller’s death.
[T]his is not just the personal tragedy of one abortion doctor, one honorable physician who took over his late father’s family practice. This brutal, cold-blooded, premeditated political assassination is the inevitable and predictable result of over thirty-five years of rabid anti-abortion harassment, hate rhetoric, violence, and intimidation. . .Dr. David Gunn was assassinated in 1993. Dr. John Britton was assassinated in 1994. Dr. Bernard Slepian was assassinated in 1998. . .Doctor Tiller is the fourth American abortion doctor to be assassinated by “pro-life” anti-abortion fanatics, and at least three other people have been murdered for the same reasons. Others, such as nurse Emily Lyons, have been maimed for life. . .Doctor Tiller’s assassination is the latest event in the historic pattern of anti-abortion violence. This movement says to those of us who help women: “Do what we tell you to do, or we will kill you.” And they do. . .We don’t have to invade other countries to find terrorists. They are right here killing abortion doctors. . .
It is a woman’s right to have a safe abortion in the United States.Safe abortion is an essential component of women’s health care.Doctors and other health workers should be able to provide this care for women without fear for their lives.
Anti-abortion terrorism, violence, and harassment of doctors, women, clinic workers, doctors’ offices, and women’s reproductive health care facilities must end.
Anti-abortion fanatics should leave other people alone to make and carry out their private health care decisions.
Hate speech and inflammatory anti-abortion rhetoric designed to incite violence against doctors and other health care workers must be declared hate speech that is not protected under the First Amendment. There is legal precedent for this step.
So how can you support a woman’s right to choose in a safe and supportive environment? Here are some ways to combat the growing violence of the anti-abortion movement:
1) Volunteer as an escort at an abortion clinic, or, if your city doesn’t have one, a local Planned Parenthood.
2) Write a letter to President Obama or to your local legislators, expressing the importance of reproductive choice in your country or your community.
2) Write a letter to President Obama or to your local legislators, expressing the importance of reproductive choice in your country or your community.
Comments
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I have recently been thinking more and more about volunteering at a local Planned Parenthood or other RH clinic. Your post gives me more motivation to do so. :-)
# Posted By AFY_Samantha
| 6/15/09 12:31 AM
| Reply
Great post. It's really important that we don't let the anti-abortion forces claim Dr. Tiller's assassination as a victory for their side. It was a tragedy, but it's not going to stop the pro-choice movement.
# Posted By freewomyn
| 6/15/09 12:21 PM
| Reply
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