Anti-abortion violence

Anti-abortion violence are acts of aggression specifically visited upon people who or places which provide abortion. Such incidences range from the vandalism, arson, and bombings of abortion clinics, as committed by Eric Rudolph, to the murders or attempted murders of physicians and clinic staff, as committed by James Kopp.

The controversial nature of abortion in many countries has lead some of those opposed to it to resort to very public demonstrations of violence in an effort to prove their point. This, however, is not the case with the majority of pro-life activists, who rely upon non-violent forms of activism like picketing and vigils.

It is seen as ironic by some that an pro-life advocate would attempt to kill those who support abortion. However, one should note that, while there are extremists, the majority of pro-life advocates do not support violent tendencies. The American Life League has gone so far as to write a "Pro-life Proclamation Against Violence." ^[1]

Incidents in the United States

Since 1977, in the United States and Canada, there have been 7 murders, 17 attempted murders, 3 kidnappings, 375 death threats, 655 anthrax threats, 41 bombings, 173 arsons, 89 attempted bombings or arsons, 1347 incidences of trespassing, 1213 incidences of vandalism, and 100 attacks with butyric acid, in addition to other disruptive and violent occurrences. ^[2]

In the U.S., violence directed toward abortion providers has claimed the lives of 7 people, including 3 doctors, 2 clinic employees, a security guard, and a clinic escort. ^[3]

• Dr. David Gunn of Pensacola, Florida, was fatally shot during a protest on March 10, 1993. He had been the subject of wanted-style posters distributed by Operation Rescue in the summer of the year before. Michael F. Griffin was found guilty of Dr. Gunn's murder and was sentenced to life in prison.
• Dr. John Britton and James Barrett, a clinic escort, were both shot outside of another facility in Pensacola June 29, 1994. Rev. Paul Jennings Hill was charged with the killings, received a death sentence, and was executed September 3, 2003.
• Two receptionists, Shannon Lowney and Lee Ann Nichols, were killed when two separate clinics in Brookline, Massachusetts and Norfolk, Virginia were both attacked on December 30, 1994. John Salvi was later convicted. He committed suicide in prison and guards found his body under his bed with a plastic garbage bag tied around his head.
• Robert Sanderson, an off-duty police officer who worked as a security guard an abortion clinic in Birmingham, Alabama, died when his workplace was bombed on January 29, 1998. Eric Robert Rudolph, who was also responsible for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Park bombing, was charged with the crime and received two life sentences as a result.
• Dr. Barnett Slepian was shot dead at his home in Amherst, New York on October 23, 1998. His was the last in a series of similar shootings against providers in Canada and northern New York state which were all likely committed by James Kopp. Kopp was convicted of Dr. Slepian's murder after finally being apprehended in France in 2001.

A fourth doctor, George Patterson, was shot in Mobile, Alabama on August 21, 1993, but it is uncertain whether his death was the direct result of his profession or rather a robbery. ^[4] Others have been injured, often seriously, as a result of anti-abortion violence in the United States: ^{[5] [6] [7]}

• Dr. George Tiller was shot outside of an abortion facility in Wichita, Kansas in August of 1993. Rachelle Shannon was charged with the crime and received an 11-year prison sentence.
• June Barret was shot in the same attack which claimed the lives of James Barrett, her husband, and Dr. John Britton.
• Five individuals were wounded in the same-day shootings which killed Shannon Lowney and Lee Ann Nichols.
• Dr. Calvin Jackson was stabbed in December 1996.
• A physician whose name has not been revealed was shot in his home in Rochester, New York on October 28, 1997.
• Emily Lyons, a nurse, was severely injured in the bombing which also killed Robert Sanderson.

The Nuremberg Files was a controversial anti-abortion web site which published the names, home addresses, telephone numbers, and other personal information of abortion providers – highlighting the names of those who had been wounded and striking out those of which had been killed. The site was accused of being a thinly-veiled hit list intended to incite violence; others claimed that it was protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. ^[8] A 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision finally shut the site down in 2002 after a prolonged debate.

Incidents in Canada

Violence has also occurred across the border, in Canada, where three doctors have been attacked to date. There is speculation that the timing of the shootings is related to the Canadian observance of Remembrance Day. The physicians were part of pattern of attacks, which targeted providers in Canada and upstate New York, including Dr. Barnett Slepian. All victims were shot in their homes with a rifle, at dusk, in late October or early November. James Kopp was charged with murder or Dr. Slepian and the attempted murder of Dr. Short; he is suspected of having committed the rest. ^{[9] [10]}

• Dr. Garson Romalis of Vancouver, British Columbia is shot on November 8, 1994.
• Dr. Hugh Short of Ancaster, Ontario is shot on November 10, 1995.
• Dr Jack Fainman of Winnepeg, Manitoba is shot on November 11, 1997.

Dr. Romalis also survived being stabbed by an unindentified assailant in the lobby of his clinic on July 11, 2000. ^[11]

Incident in Australia

Steven Rogers, a security guard at the Fertility Control Clinic in Melbourne, Australia was shot in the face and killed by an unidentified gunman on Monday, July 16, 2001. ^[12]

References

1. ^ American Life League. (n.d.). Pro-life proclamation against violence. Retrieved April 13, 2006.
2. ^ National Abortion Federation. (2005). Incidence of Violence & Disruption Against Abortion Providers in the U.S. & Canada. Retrieved April 13, 2006.
3. ^ NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation. (2006). Clinic violence and intimidation. Retrieved April 13, 2006.
4. ^ Crow, Karen. (August 19, 2005). A Violent Week in August. Choice! Magazine. Retrieved April 13, 2006.
5. ^ Robinson, B.A. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. (November 9, 2004). "Violence & Harassment at U.S. Abortion Clinics. Retrieved April 13, 2006.
6. ^ National Abortion Federation. (2006). Clinic Violence: History of Violence. Retrieved April 13, 2006.
7. ^ Clarkson, Frederick. (May 31, 2001). Journalists or terrorists?. Salon.com. Retrieved April 13, 2006.
8. ^ "Canada abortion doctor stabbed." (July 13, 2000). BBC News. Retrieved April 13, 2006.
9. ^ "Australian abortion clinic guard killed." (July 16, 2001). BBC News. Retrieved April 13, 2006.