President Obama's lukewarm statement on Tiller's murder:"I am shocked and outraged by the murder of Dr. George Tiller as he attended church services this morning. However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence."
We're disappointed the president made no mention of law enforcement or justice in this matter. Condemning violence is a good start, but we were looking for real leadership.
However, we are optimistic President Obama's support is more behind-the-scenes. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is devoting Department of Justice resources toward protecting abortion providers. Statement from Holder:
"The murder of Doctor George Tiller is an abhorrent act of violence, and his family is in our thoughts and prayers at this tragic moment. Federal law enforcement is coordinating with local law enforcement officials in Kansas on the investigation of this crime, and I have directed the United States Marshals Service to offer protection to other appropriate people and facilities around the nation.
"The Department of Justice will work to bring the perpetrator of this crime to justice. As a precautionary measure, we will also take appropriate steps to help prevent any related acts of violence from occurring."
Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, was similarly sympathetic. As the Kansas governor, she had worked with Dr. Tiller and was supportive of his work. Her statement (see pg. 4 of WaPo story):
"This is sad and shocking news. My prayers go out to the Tiller family and to the members of his church who witnessed this terrible crime."
If you want to send your condolences and support to Dr. Tiller's family and clinic, use this page and FMF can forward your remarks.
Our thoughts are with his family. We remain grateful to the doctors and their staffs who provide abortion services, and to the volunteers, politicians, and organizations that continue working to protect choice.
Clinic violence is not new, and if we do not organize to protect choice, it may continue. To learn more about recent and past clinic terrorism across the country, browse the data we've collected from clinics since 1993. The most recent survey results were released in February, and you can see that and past surveys on our National Clinic Access Project site.
Dr. Tiller's assassination is the reason our work is still, now more than ever, so important. If you and I do not keep agitating for reproductive freedom, we will lose it.
P.S. We welcome thoughtful, respectful comments and e-mails. If you are condoning clinic violence, post those thoughts on your own blog, not ours. Thanks.
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