Reproductive health clinics have been the victims of violent crime and terrorism for years, folks, years.
There are right-wingers out there right now, arguing that Scott Roeder's murder of Dr. George Tiller is an isolated event, the likes of which hasn't happened in memorable history. This is similar to an argument that emerged in the wake of the DHS memo on right-wing extremism: that the Oklahoma City bombing was years ago, and that the memo is therefore a lot of carrying on over nothing.
Sorry, but I'm calling BS. Don't take my word for it; read the statistics yourself.
Over at the National Abortion Federation website, the good folks there have put together summaries and tables of data on reproductive health clinic violence.
Granted, anti-choice extremists haven't actually murdered any health care workers for about 11 years.
The violence hasn't stopped, though. In 2009 alone (through April), the NAF reports 11 cases of vandalism, 40 cases of trespassing, four incidents of assault and battery, six death threats, and six burglaries. Although there haven't been any cases of arson since 2007, there were cases every year between 1994 and 2005, usually at least two annually. In 2006, someone was even kidnapped.
So don't let anyone tell you that violence toward "abortion doctors" is some relic of the Clinton-era conservative holy war.
It never stopped.
















Here's a good post on the topic from a DU poster:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5763397
June 1, 2009 5:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
I want to know why these statistics aren't considered newsworthy by the mainstream press.
June 2, 2009 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink