FMF Presents: Hell No! We Won't Go

A Networking Benefit for the National Clinic Access Project

Madam’s Organ

Thursday, August 27, 2009 • 5:00 – 9:00pm

2461 18^th St. NW • Metro: Woodley Park

Come to Madam’s Organ and socialize for a good cause! FMF’s National Clinic Access Project (NCAP) assists comprehensive women’s health clinics and physicians, and is the oldest and largest national organization that monitors national trends in clinic violence and harassment.

An FMF survey from 2008 found 20% of abortion providers endured severe anti-choice violence and harassment. We need your help to keep clinics open and end the violence.

No cover! All ages are welcome. $1 from each drink (including non-alcoholic drinks) and 20% of food sales go to NCAP. Madam's also has a $1 off drinks happy hour special until 8pm.

Are you on Twitter? We're making this a DC metro area pro-choice tweetup! We're looking forward to actually meeting you all in person - @feministcampus to let us know you're coming!

Enter our raffle for FMF prizes! Tickets are $3, or 2 tickets for $5!

RSVP by 8/25 to dgeong@feminist.org or on Facebook!

Photo credit: Wichita Eagle

Where are you?

On January 8, 1989, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch ran an ad taken out by B.J. Isaacson-Jones. The "ad" was in the form of a poem. At the time, Isaacson-Jones was the Executive Director of Reproductive Health Services (as in Webster v. Reproductive Health Services). In the wake of Dr. Tiller's death we must continue to stand up against anti-choice terrorists and let our voices be heard. Where are you?

An Open Letter to 21 Million Women

Where are you?
For over 16 years we have provided
you with choices
Painful choices
I remember
I sometimes cried with you.
Choices, nevertheless, when you were desperate.

Remember how we protected your privacy
and treated you with dignity and respect
when you
were famous
had been brought to us in shackles
with an armed guard, or
were terrified
that you would run into
one of your students?
I remember each of you.

Our clinic was firebombed.
Do you recall?
Exhausted and terrified we had
been up all night.
We rerouted you to another clinic
because you wanted an abortion that day.
Where are you?

Priding ourselves on providing abortions for
those who cannot pay, we have spent millions
of dollars that we never really
had caring for you. We wanted
to give a choice.
I also gave you cab fare and
money for dinner from my own pocket.
Have you forgotten?

I remember you cried and asked me how
you could carry this pregnancy to term when
you
were abusing the children you had,
were having an affair,
tested positive for AIDS,
could not handle another,
were raped by your mother’s boyfriend,
pregnant by your father and
shocked and torn apart when
your very much wanted and loved
fetus was found to be
severely deformed.

Your mother picketed our clinic
regularly. We brought you in after dark.
Have you mustered the courage
to tell her that you are pro-choice?
You are.
Aren’t you?

I recall shielding your shaking body, guiding you
and you husband through the picket lines.
They screamed adoption, not abortion!
You wondered how you could explain your
choice to your young children.

You broke our hearts.
You had just celebrated your twelfth birthday
when you came to us. You clutched
your teddy bear, sucked your thumb
and cried out for your mom who asked
you why you had gotten yourself pregnant.
You replied that you just wanted to be grown.
You’re twenty today.
Where are you?

I pretend I don’t know you in the market,
at social gatherings and on the street.
I told you I would.
After your procedure you told me that you would
fight for reproductive choices (parenthood,
adoption, and abortion) for your mother, daughters,
and grandchildren. You will . . . won’t you?

I have no regrets. I care about
each and every one of you and
treasure all that you’ve taught me.
But I’m angry. I can’t do this alone.
I’m not asking you to speak about your abortion, but
You need to speak out and you need to speak
out now. Where are you?

Dr. Tiller's Clinic the new Operation Rescue Headquarters?

According to the Huffington Post and the Associated Press, Operation Rescue is looking at purchasing Dr Tiller’s old clinic! I was in so much shock that I had to search several other papers to see if it was true. And it is! Newspaper after newspaper said that the anti-choice group has been making plans to purchase the recently closed clinic.

Troy Newman, the president of Operation Rescue, says that the organization is having discussions about buying the recently closed clinic and converting it into “a center for life.” Dr. Tiller’s clinic should not be used as the headquarters for a group that so vehemently opposes women and tirelessly works to destroy women’s lives.

If the group succeeds in purchasing the building, which would be horrifying, the building would stand not as a “center for life” but rather as a constant reminder of the battle for reproductive rights in the United States, and how far our society still needs to go. There are still fake clinics . There are still women that do not have the options that are legally given to them. Abortion is legal, but until there is access for women, there is still work to be done.

Questions? Feedback? Contact us at campusteam@feminist.org

The very real anti-choice terrorist threat

There has been some debate in the wake of the Tiller assassination about free speech, and many are questioning whether the murderer was acting as a "lone wolf" or as a member of a larger terrorist network.

On The Rachel Maddow Show last week, GW constitutional law professor Jonathan Turley argued that Scott Roeder is not a terrorist but rather one crazy guy "at war with the world."



I strongly disagree with Turley's assessment of the situation. Roeder is not a loner, but an active member of the anti-choice movement. People underestimate the sophistication of the anti-choicers, evidenced by this astounding manual Amanda Marcotte of RH Reality Check brought to light last week. While four bumbling ex-cons who can't even tell they bought fake bombs are given the "terrorist" label (a categorization with which I agree) quickly and without question by law enforcement and the media, there is resistance to acknowledging the very real threat of the anti-choice movement.

Anti-choice groups have realized that the right to choose is constitutionally sound and that it is difficult to overturn Roe v. Wade through legal means, as they have been trying to do for thirty-six years. Instead, they use terror to scare abortion providers and limit the procedure's availability to women. The news has reminded us time and time again this past week that Dr. Tiller was one of the few physicians in the country who performed late abortions. The implication is that low number is due to a moral choice, when in reality so few doctors are willing to put themselves in that risky position, a choice for which I do not blame them. Dr. Tiller faced an assassination attempt in the 90s, multiple threats against himself, his family, and staff, acts of vandalism at his clinic, and millions of dollars in legal fees before his tragic murder. Those working against him were not exercising their right to free speech--they were terrorizing him, his loved ones, staff, and the women he helped everyday.

We are not dealing with people carrying a couple of "choose life" placards and rosary beads. This article from the New York Times describes the typical scene at Dr. Tiller's clinic:

"trucks bearing enormous images of bloody fetuses, the signs offering the home addresses of clinic workers, the crowd of protesters yelling to women as they enter."

They are all gone now, as the clinic remains shuttered, its future uncertain. Sadly, the future of the thousands of women Dr. Tiller served is also uncertain. They are the other victims of this terrorist act.

From Tragedy

This has been a tremendously sad week for me, and I have yet to truly mourn the death (assassination) of Dr. George Tiller. For the last 6 days, I have watched the community around me reel with pain, with sadness, with anger, and with the simple loss of a compassionate human being.

I have drafted press releases, attended vigils, consoled colleagues, read countless articles and blog posts, and talked with new interns about the sheer tragedy that is the needless death of Dr. Tiller. And yet, I cannot wrap my head around it.

I first heard the name 'Dr. Tiller' when I started working for the Feminist Majority Foundation in the fall of 2007. FMF has worked with Dr. Tiller and his clinic for years--fundraising to help him stay on top of the legal costs of frivilous cases, working with local and federal law enforcement to combat violence at his clinic, and finding ways to thank and support his staff as they were relentlessly targeted and harassed by anti-abortion extremists.

In March of last year, Dr. Tiller agreed to speak at FMF's National Young Women's Leadership Conference, and it was there that I truly learned what an amazingly courageous and compassionate person this man was and will forever be. Dr. Tiller spoke of horrendous conditions and incomprehensible choices, but what struck me the most was that while most doctors would reference a "case," Dr. Tiller spoke of his patients. He never boasted about saving lives or coming to the rescue. He simply saw himself supporting women who came desperately to his door when no one else could or would help.

We all celebrated this past March when Dr. Tiller was justly acquitted of the 19 bogus charges brought agaisnt him by a politically motivated prosectution. We were concerned when his clinic was recently vandalized. And then there was Sunday. There simply are no words.

I lament the reality that it takes such a gut-wrenching tragedy to evoke REAL conversation on the medical, cultural, political issue of abortion, and yet, here we are. I have been surprised by the national dialogue I've begun to witness:

• brave abortion providers and supporters coming forward to not only support the memory of Dr. Tiller, but to re-affirm their commitment to ensuring SAFE and LEGAL abortion in the United States;
  
  
• national media outlets taking a hard look at the skewed politics of the zealotous anti-abortion movement, using every last measure to imprint their religious doctrine on anyone who will give them the time of day;
  
  
• bloggers from every walk of life asking real questions in an attempt to dispell the hatred that is so often spewed from one "opponent" to the other.

While the grieving process will take a long time, I am encouraged by how it has started in communities from coast to coast. So many of the hard truths to come in the wake of Dr. Tiller's assassination are not comforting, but there is much to be gained from the dialogue.

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

Best of the Feminist Blogosphere

I've spent a good part of the day reading the many articles and essays about Dr. Tiller that are floating around the feminist blogosphere. Some of the most touching, thought-provoking, and well-written:

On George Tiller and the Profound Power of Language
Megan at Jezebel writes about the power of words and the environment that encouraged Dr. Tiller's assassin.

The Circle Continues
RH Reality Check covers Dr. Leroy Carhart, the heroic doctor who is temporarily taking over Dr. Tiller's clinic.

Where will women go now?
Broadsheet at Salon addresses the remarkable scope of Dr. Tiller's good work, and wonders what will happen to all the women he would have helped in the future.

The Murder of Dr. Tiller, a Foreshadowing
Cristina Page points out the patterns of clinic violence and worries that there is more to come, at Huffington Post.

Patients Remember Dr. Tiller
Jill at Feministe compiled the recollections of the many men and women Dr. Tiller helped, some of whom would not be alive today without him. A must read for anyone who has ever had doubts of the need for late-term abortions.

Federal response to Dr. Tiller's assassination

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.

Murder of Dr. George Tiller – Statement of Eleanor Smeal, President

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.

###

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

Medical Clinic of Dr. George Tiller Vandalized - Again

Some sad news to share - the Wichita, KS, clinic of Dr. George Tiller, one of the country's few abortion providers that will provide late-term abortions, was vandalized not too long ago. The Feminist Daily Newswire has a story up about the events here - vandals evidently cut off outdoor lights and security cameras before cutting into the roof of the clinic. Additionally, with a forecast of rain, the downspouts were plugged up, causing the rain to pour into the clinic, causing thousands of dollars of damage inside the clinic.

Dr. Tiller has asked that the FBI investigate the incident, which resulted in severe damage and costly repairs. This event was the most recent in a long line of attacks made against Dr. Tiller and his clinic, Women's Health Care Services. The Feminist Majority Foundation is strongly against clinic terrorism and anti-choice violence, and we are saddened to hear about the most recent destruction at Women's Health Care Services.

To learn more about the history of attacks against Dr. Tiller and his clinics, click here to read stories out of the Feminist Daily Newswire archives.