FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 31, 2009
Contact: Alice Cohan 703-522-2214 | Susie Gilligan 310-556-2500
Murder of Dr. George Tiller – Statement of Eleanor Smeal, President
The Feminist Majority Foundation is deeply saddened and outraged by the assassination of Dr. George Tiller at his church in Wichita, Kansas, this morning. We have worked closely with Dr. Tiller for many years in the hopes of preventing such a tragedy.
The tragic news of his murder, unfortunately, does not come as a complete surprise. Dr. Tiller has long been the target of anti-abortion extremists, surviving a previous assassination attempt in 1994 by an Army of God follower.
Dr. Tiller, who I knew for more than twenty years, was an extraordinarily courageous and dedicated women's health physician. Dr. Tiller was fully aware of the danger he faced, but was determined to ensure that women nationwide with troubled pregnancies had access to the best medical care that could be provided. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family and his dedicated clinic staff and medical personnel.
Dr. Tiller’s murder is not an isolated event. Dr. Tiller was harassed, threatened, shot five times (in 1994), his clinic was bombed in 1986, and most recently this month was maliciously damaged by anti-abortion extremists. We are concerned about the safety and lives of other dedicated personnel and doctors—not only in Kansas, but several other states. The Feminist Majority Foundation is working with clinics and law enforcement to ensure the security of reproductive healthcare physicians and staff during this period of heightened concern.
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Since 1989, the Feminist Majority Foundation has run the National Clinic Access Project (NCAP), the nation’s oldest and largest clinic defense program. NCAP works with local law enforcement to ensure safe access to women’s reproductive health clinics, to increase safety for women’s healthcare workers and physicians, and to bring perpetrators of anti-abortion violence to justice.
Press Release here: http://www.feminist.org/pdfs/Tiller%20Press%20Release%205-31-09.pdf
Sunday, May 31, 2009
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3 comments:
In the eyes of the Feminist Majority Foundation and millions of women, men, and families around the country, Dr. George Tiller will always be remembered as a courageous and dedicated individual. Although Dr. Tiller has been brutally assassinated, we continue to stand behind him, his family, his colleagues.
Our deepest sympathies and most heartfelt support goes out to Dr. Tiller's family.
My deepest sympathy and gratitude to the family of Dr. George Tiller for their loss of a father, grandfather and husband. As a mother of 3 and a social worker, he has inspired me to continue to provide care and support for women and their families. The test of a culture is the position of women in a society and his work and sacrifice have contributed much to the society in which I live. I am deeply grateful for his work on my behalf and on behalf of my daughters.
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