Clinic Violence
Since 1977, there have been over163,000 acts of violence and/or disruption at clinics nationwide.
Those acts of violence include:
- 8 murders
- 17 attempted murders
- 41 bombings
- 175 arsons
- 96 additional failed bombing and arson attempts
- 390 physical invasions of personal and business properties
- 1400 acts of vandalism
- 100 butyric acid attacks
- 659 anthrax threats, of which 480 happened since September 11, 2001.
- 179 assaults
- 406 death threats
- 4 kidnappings
Source: National Abortion Federation (NAF), Violence and Disruption Statistics, April, 2009. Figures include incidents from both US and Canada.
Through their repeated threats and acts of violence, perpetrators of clinic violence have demonstrated flagrant disregard for the law. Compounding such brazen disregard for the law are their attempts to avoid paying the fines and penalties assessed against them as a result of their illegal activity. Several individuals (including six defendants in the “Nuremberg Files” website case) have taken steps to avoid responsibility for their debts by filing for bankruptcy.
These debtors are not innocent, peaceful protestors: they owe fines because of their threats and violence against doctors, clinic personnel and women. In memory of Dr. George Tiller On May 31st, 2009, Dr. Tiller was brutally shot and killed while attending church in Wichita, Kansas, breaking a ten-year reprieve from provider assassinations. This was the last act in a barrage of violence against Dr. Tiller's clinic, staff and patients. NARAL Pro-Choice Washington would like to extend our condolences to Dr. Tiller’s friends and family, and to point out the many lives his long and inspirational practice improved. Dr. Tiller was one of only a handful of doctors who perform late-term abortions in this country, and his death limits the choices of all women. To ensure that in the future providers of safe, legal abortion are not intimidated or harmed, please urge the White House to enforce the FACE Act and strengthen the National Task Force that is supposed to be preventing this type of violence. To learn more about Dr. Tiller’s life and work, please read this New York Times article by David Barstow. |
