What good is the right to choose if you can't exercise it?

Dr. George Tiller, who was tragically murdered this past Sunday, believed firmly in a woman's right to choose and he put his life on the line to ensure that women could exercise that right.

The women and men, like Dr. Tiller, who risk their personal safety and well-being to provide women with vital reproductive health services need our support now more than ever.

Physicians, clinic staff, patients and clinic escorts at the hundreds of reproductive health clinics throughout the country often face harassment and intimidation by anti-abortion forces. Staff and physicians are not unaccustomed to having their photos and personal information posted on the internet, and they often receive harassing phone calls and emails.

They may even find protesters outside of their homes, and "wanted" posters containing their images posted throughout their communities. Patients seeking reproductive health services are often faced with a sea of protesters, are vulnerable to being videotaped or photographed as a supposed "shame" tactic, and may face difficulty in even getting out of their cars, let alone into the clinic.

In more rare, but not uncommon (and unfortunately increasing) circumstances, severely violent tactics such as, physical violence, murder, arson, bomb threats, blockades, vandalism, break-ins, clinic invasion, and stalking are employed by anti-abortion forces. (Please see FMF's National Clinic Access Project's Clinic Violence Surveys for data).

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!
Create a public memorial display or hold a vigil honoring Dr. Tiller's life and work. Wherever you are this summer, collect flowers, cards, candles and posters of support, not only for Dr. Tiller, but for the countless women and men who face harassment, protests and threats on a daily basis.

BECOME A CLINIC ESCORT!
Contact your local women's health clinic and ask if they are in need of any clinic escorts. In light of the recent increases in anti-abortion protests, harassment and violence, clinics may need additional help ensuring patients' access to clinics.

As a clinic escort, you can help protect women from harassment and intimidation tactics and provide support during a time when already troubled feelings may only be compounded by protesters' words and actions.

If your local clinic does not provide abortion, or does not need escorts, ask if there is any other way you can help out. During this economic downturn, increasing layoffs mean people are losing their health insurance and are seeking out free or low-cost reproductive health services with increasing prevalence.

Thankfully, our clinics are always there to provide comprehensive health care to those who need it, but the heightened demand for services is putting a significant strain on clinic staff and volunteers. Offer to help out in any capacity needed at your local clinic.

In whatever way you can, let your clinics know how much you appreciate their tireless efforts to protect women's ability to exercise the right to choose, despite ongoing threats and harassment. Dr. Tiller will always be remembered as a brave man who never flinched in his trust for women's personal decision making power. We are all so grateful for his work and the work of women's health physicians, clinic staff and volunteers across the country.

- Sierra Dwyer, FMF Campus Intern, Occidental College Student