I actually couldn't believe that this article was deemed worthy of publication. It is full of bigoted and unresearched accusations. It is far too easy to define a group by the craziest of the lot instead of actually giving an argument about a very controversial and multifaceted issue.
To use the quote, "the shooting of Dr. Slepian illustrates a key strategy of the so-called prolifers: murder and terrorize doctors and clinic staffers" is like saying that some one like Seung-Hui Cho, the infamous VA Tech shooter, somehow proves something about college English majors. Or that because some teachers molest students that they are all molesters. It is so preposterous, and if you want day- to- day proof, drive down Main Street early some Saturday morning outside of a woman's services center there and you can see a scattering of very peaceful (and many elderly) people praying and receiving the finger from people driving by. I don't know how anyone could think it is rational to define a group of millions of people (and if you don't believe my numbers here, I'll even allow you to claim there are only 300,000 Prolife Americans, the number who attended the peaceful March for Life this year) by the actions of a few. You claim 5,600 reported acts of violence in the last 31 years, but there is no number given of actual convictions. What are the reported acts of violence against peaceful pro lifers? How do we even know these acts of violence had anything to do with what the abortion providers do for a living? And why not try giving statistics from a source that won't benefit from the disclosure of such information (NARAL).
James Kopp is insane and anyone who thinks what he did was right is insane. I am really sick of reading these AV articles where someone on the liberal side of things is being so "courageous" in calling what they think is a spade what they think is a spade. These arguments aren't new and they aren't good. This pitting of one side painted as a group of saints against this "terrible unrelenting source of violence", is so transparent and way too easy. It seeks to discredit a position in the same way mocking someone into submission does. It seeks to shame and bully instead of actually discuss. This article is based on stereotypes. It is bigoted.
Women who want abortions can get abortions. This is why one in three pregnancies ends in abortion.
If you are going to claim that the violence of Pro Life people is what is responsible for the shutting down of clinics why didn't you name more than one person, and how about trying someone from within the last 15 years. If there are all these Pro Life monsters out there, who are they? Because a Pro Lifer like me wants them in jail as much as you do. Because to murder is NOT Pro Life.
There are so many reasonable things that Prolife people are trying to accomplish through democratic means. Pro Choice people like to sum up all these ideas into the very scary category of "anti- choice" legislation. Meanwhile, what rights do we have in this country that don't come with some sort of restrictions, especially controversial rights like gun ownership, or prostitution? If a 13 year old girl cannot buy a lotto ticket, can't get her ears pierced, can't drive, can't see an R-rated movie, why can she undergo a surgical or even non-surgical procedure without her parents knowing it? (Look up your statisitcs... more women have died from "safe, legal" abortions since 1972 than clinic workers have been murdered). I have heard the argument, "well what if her parents are these awful conservative Christians and they will beat her or abandon her because of her abortion." There are documented incidents of underaged girls whose statutory rapes have been covered up repeatedly because their boyfriends brought them for abortions. Also why should we allow the state to say that they know how to parent better than the actual parent does? And if a girl is in such a position that her parents are willing to beat or abandon her, then her having an abortion should have nothing to do with whether or not they are fit to be her parents. Partial birth abortion is another issue in the "anit choice" debate. If FOCA passes as Obama has promised it will and as your article implies, then this will be 100% legal. Go on Youtube and look up abortion. You will see little hands, little feet, heads, you name it disposed of in plastic bags and thrown into the dumpsters of these heroes' parking lots. And for statistics sake, while pro Choice people love to say that this is the rarest of abortions, when 50 million abortions have taken place, you better believe that this has happened in the thousands.
On a final note, my husband is in medical school and he could only find two positions (for about 30 students) to do his OBGYN clerkship where he would not be confronted with either witnessing or participating in some kind of abortion procedure. Granted he would have been allowed to decline participation in the other positions, but how would that go over with the people who'd be grading him, who do that for a living? Any chance of an "A"? Probably not. And now with FOCA on the table, even medical personal who are NOT doctors will be able to perform them (so much for safety) and all hospitals who have OBGYN departments will be REQUIRED to perform abortion procedures (so much for freedom of choice, freedom of conscience).
While Lindsay Berman's article seeks to be a "News Feature" I found it to be totally amateurish. I am no writer myself, but I know when you make claims, especially claims that a group of people is out there promoting violence, you better have pretty heavy stats to back that up. Instead I read flimsy ones and quotes from other people who have an agenda to promote abortion and it's billion dollar a year industry.
News Feature |
V-Day Warriorby Lindsay Berman |
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Remembering women’s advocate Dr. Bernard Slepian and his crusade
On October 23, 1998, Dr. Barnett Slepian was shot and killed in his Amherst home in front of his family by James Kopp for performing legal abortions. To the Buffalo community, this case demonstrated the magnitude of the ongoing abortion and women’s reproductive rights debate.
Amherst physician Dr. Barnett Slepian (right) and the man who murdered him, James Kopp, who is currently serving a life sentence in prison.
More than a decade after his murder, abortion availability remains precarious.
In an interview with AV, Glen Murray, a Buffalo criminal defense and civil rights attorney, said, “I believe the media was reluctant to call James Kopp what he was, a ‘domestic terrorist.’ The local and national media connotes ‘terrorists’ with Arab Muslims, not Christian extremists who shoot and bomb. I think most media is afraid to even acknowledge the concept of ‘Christian terrorists,’ because this might offend some Christians.”
Nationwide since 1993, seven abortion clinic workers have been murdered and since 1977, there have been 5,600 reported acts of violence against abortion providers, including bombings, arsons, death threats, kidnappings, and assaults, according to the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL). Consequently, 87 percent of counties in the US have no abortion provider—and that figure rises to 97 percent of non-metropolitan counties.
Many pro-choice allies and activists view the tactics of the “anti-choice” opposition as increasingly hostile towards both abortion providers and women seeking their services. “The shooting of Dr. Slepian illustrates a key strategy of the so-called pro-lifers: murder and terrorize doctors and clinic staffers in order to drive them out of business,” Terry O’Neill of NOW wrote in the group’s national publication.
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Local Organization Fights Family Violence
V-Day is a movement to end violence against women and girls, which raises funds and awareness through benefit productions of Eve Ensler’s award-winning play The Vagina Monologues and other artistic works on or around Valentine’s day each year. Aligned with V-Day’s theme, the Erie County Coalition Against Family Violence (ECCAFV) works toward ending the cycle of brutality in Western New York. The organization’s meetings provide a forum for concerned citizens, community leaders, and professionals to discuss issues of family violence that affect the area. Over the past 20 years, the coalition has targeted the root causes of domestic violence at the individual, organizational, and institutional level through building leadership, strategies, and increasing accountability. According to the ECCAFV, “Domestic Violence is a manifestation of sexism, racism, and other oppressions inherent in the social, historical and political context of the US.” The FBI reports that family violence occurs every 12 seconds, which is more frequent than any other crime in the US and that 2.5 million Americans are victims of abuse. Such instances, which include physical, emotional, psychological, and/or sexual abuse, has been statistically linked to juvenile delinquency, child abuse and neglect, adult criminality, homelessness, and alcohol and substance abuse. The ECCAFV is one local group that works to end this violence. —lindsay berman |
Kopp was found guilty in 2003 of second-degree murder and in January 2007 for violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act and a weapons charge. He was also a suspect in four non-fatal shootings of abortion providers in Canada and Rochester. In June 2007, Kopp was sentenced to life in prison.
“After a New York sentence of 25 to life, he was sentenced to life without parole by the federal court,” Murray explained. “The dual prosecution [New York and US] ensured that James Kopp will never be released from jail, which is especially important because he showed no remorse for his premeditated shooting. He avoided facing any death-penalty prosecution by fleeing to France. France would not extradite unless US and New York authorities waived any death penalty prosecution.”
After the Slepian murder, Buffalo groups that provide reproductive health services to women have become more cautious and many have been forced to close. “Security risks have limited the number of abortion providers to those who are most dedicated to their patient’s freedom of choice,” Murray said.
Closings of abortion clinics, which were scarce to begin with in Western New York, greatly impact the community. While upper-class women often have access to services through a private gynecologists or referrals, women who are poor, young, and/or unaware of their options must rely on specialized clinics or hospitals. This vulnerable group statistically faces the highest levels of unplanned pregnancies due to decreasing resources and policy changes.
The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics found that from 1994-2001, the rate of unplanned pregnancies increased by almost 30 percent for women below the federal poverty line, in contrast to the rate for women comfortably above it, which fell by 20 percent.
This struggle has continued to escalate because of the previous presidential administration’s policies. During the Bush era, anti-choice policies of the past were reinvigorated. According to Planned Parenthood, religious-extremist politicians gained power within the administration, anti-choice judges were appointed to federal positions, restrictions were placed on abortion procedures, and government funding was drastically increased for abstinence-only sex-ed programs and cut for family planning services.
In an email to AV, Amy White of Planned Parenthood said of the Bush years, “with a change in the US House and the US Senate leadership to more family planning friendly forces, the toxic rhetoric of the anti-abortion movement will no longer dictate healthcare policy. Programs that prevent abortion, such as family planning education and services, were dealt a significant blow eight years ago when Bush and anti-choice forces were put into power in the US government.”
White also wrote of the transition to the new administration, “Obama and family planning and women’s health advocates will now begin a rebuilding process for the CDC, public health clinics, and programs that help prevent unintended pregnancy. These groups can now proceed with the work of prevention and education that helps stop unintended pregnancy.”
Another threat to abortion availability is young doctors’ lack of training. According to the Guttmacher Institute, a leader in reproductive issues research, only 12 percent of US residency programs routinely offer training in abortions during the first trimester. This reflects the growing fear within the medical community to do abortion procedures because of the threat of violence and political pressures. Today, it is relatively common for abortion providers to maintain a low, secretive profile and to work in offices with bulletproof glass and armed guards.
While advocates for women’s health and reproductive rights have been plagued by violence and fear the past 10 years, commitment to Slepian’s cause continues. “Access to abortion in Buffalo has continued by OBGYNs who refuse to be intimidated by extortionate threats,” Murray said. “Police have made arrests and prosecutors have handled cases with greater regard for the danger associated with the harassment of clinic patients and staff. Before Dr. Slepian’s murder, some such cases were given the lowest priority.”
In the words of a NOW representative, “We must continue to ensure that abortion is not only legal but also accessible—otherwise women simply have no choice.”
For more information or help:
ECCAFV (www.eccafv.org, 884-6002)
Crisis Services of Buffalo 24-Hour Hotline (834-3131)
Planned Parenthood of WNY (www.ppwny.org, 831-2200)
Women, Children, & Social Justice Clinic at UB Law (www.law.buffalo.edu/familyviolence, 645-2103)
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