Abortion Clinic Defense

For almost 40 years, abortion has been a legal medical procedure in the U.S. For thousands of years before that, women found ways to terminate unwanted pregnancies. Despite this reality, many involved in the anti-choice movement have taken to harassment as their weapon of choice. Harassment comes in many forms but it's goal is always fear and intimidation. We are here to fight back! Enough is enough! We will not be bullied away from our right to abortion! Pages Guide to Effective Pro-Choice Counter- Protest How to counter-protest legally and with ease. WARNING: You CAN make things worse if you don't plan right. Read this guide before engaging in any form of counter protest. Clinic Escort Directory Looking to volunteer as a clinic escort? Check here to see if there is a volunteer position in your area. Guide to Clinic Escorting A "Getting Started" guide for anyone interested in the best defense in clinic harassment. Protest/Demonstration Calendar Schedules of planned pro-choice/feminist protests and demonstrations.

[clinicdefense]

Anti-Choice Reactions to Wisconsin Planned Parenthood Attack

EDIT: The following is a post I somehow saved as a draft instead of posting! So, this is news that is MONTHS old but with recent comments by NH's Frank Szabo, still very relevant. Original Post Follows:

As I read through the various news articles on the firebomb attack on a Wisconsin Planned Parenthood I became disturbed at lack of anti-choice condemnation. Below is evidence of these reactions that often border on support of this terrorists actions. Anti-choice groups are capable of encouraging their followers to commit acts of vandalism and violence. These reactions are surely just a sampling of the comments in support of violence that echo among anti-choice activists worldwide.

Comment on HuffPo Article

Comment on Washington Post Article

Comment on TPM Article 

Different TPM Article

Article from The Last Word blog

Comment on USA Today Article

Comment on CBS Article

"Reverend" Spitz weighed in on an Examiner Article 

Repeat of this comment appears HERE

[clinicdefense]

I love this blog, and I feel like escorting would be something I would be so well suited for, but I live in Missouri. Granted, it's the STL metro area, but it's still Missouri, so all the PPs in town have to abide by the lecture and wait period laws. I have no idea how to go about approaching a clinic about escorting when they have THIS much BS red tape to slash through every time a woman wants an abortion. Halp?

My best advice is to contact the clinic directly and offer your services. They may not have an escort program in place. I am about to upload a basic guide to escorting that you are free to print out, present, and use to develop an escorting program perfect for the clinic you visit. If one clinic seems completely uninterested in your volunteerism offer, try another. If everyone shoots you down try and find a local NOW or NARAL chapter and see if they have any volunteer opportunities :) Stay tuned. I plan to have escort guide uploaded and good to go by 11:59 PM 8/30/2012 (Tomorrow night lol). p.s. Thanks for your message. I have been SLACKING with my website and it is time to get active again! You are my inspiration and motivation :)

[clinicdefense]

On August 23rd, 2012 Frank W. Szabo of Hillsborough County in New Hampshire publicly stated his support of using deadly force to prevent women from obtaining abortion care. While access to abortion is a fiercely debated issue, it is NEVER acceptable to advocate violence or the murder of your fellow citizens. Whether Mr. Szabo likes it or not, abortion is legal and the doctors who provide that service are not in violation of the law. The women who choose to terminate their pregnancies are not criminals and should not have to fear violence when access a legal medical procedure. Sign this petition and stand up for women nationwide. We cannot ignore the very real threat of anti-abortion domestic terrorism nor can we ignore the effect such comments have on those who desire to physically harm those involved in abortion care. https://www.change.org/petitions/frankszabostepdown

[clinicdefense]

When a "Culture of Life" celebrates death...

The pro-life movement often labels itself as "life-affirming" and as engaging in a "Culture of Life". When your political and ideological movement specifically targets women's bodies and futures, you better have a good reason backing you up. So-called "pro-lifers" always cite ethics and moral responsibility when questioned about their beliefs, in fact many genuinely believe they are fighting a moral fight. 

The anti-choice, "pro-life", movement at its core is NOT about defending life. It is about controlling women by controlling their fertility. While many would like to debate this idea, the current trend in celebrating women who die for the sake of an unborn child is hardly a pro-woman action. 

Note: I 100% appreciate anyone who commits to personal beliefs enough to give up their own life. I am in no way criticizing the brave women who, led by their faith, gave their lives for their children. My heart goes out to their children, their surviving families, and the communities that loved them.  I am angered by the religious culture that would indoctrinate a woman into the belief that giving up her life, especially when she already has children alive in this world who need her, is a noble and holy cause.

June 13, 2012 - Chiara Corbella died as a result of complications from cancer that went untreated due to her pregnancy. The treatments could have harmed or terminated the pregnancy so she went without. Corbella is Catholic and the Catholic church forbids a woman to obtain abortion for ANY reason. 

April 28, 1962 - Gianna Molla dies 7 days after delivering via c-section. Was advised to seek abortion and hystorectomy for pregnancy that posed serious risks to her life. Catholic.

August 16, 2011 - Stacie Crimm, of Ryan, OK, refused chemotherapy for her aggressive brain tumor for fear it would hurt her unborn child. Doctors had to deliver 2-pound Dottie prematurely.

November 22, 2011 - 17 year old Jenni Lake declines cancer treatments for to carry pregnancy to term. Died 7 days after giving birth. 

Again, I deeply respect these women's choices and understand that their choices were motivated by deeply held beliefs that should in no way be diminished. What I wonder is the choices these women would have made if their church taught them that they themselves are human beings worthy of being valued and loved. Of course, I am biased by my own beliefs on when life starts but I cannot ignore the deep heartache I feel that the majority of these women felt compelled by religious teachings that shame them for wishing to stay alive and not sacrifice their life for the developing life inside of them. What upsets me further is these cases are being used to further political arguments against abortion access for women, even if the pregnancy will kill her. While every woman should have the right to continue a pregnancy that poses a health risk, she should also have the right to seek medical interventions even if those interventions will kill the fetus (or if the intervention needed is abortion).  These women's choices should not be the standard we hold all women to when faced with such heartbreaking choices. There should not be a standard to look to. We should understand that we all come from different backgrounds and have different beliefs. A woman facing cancer should not be looked upon as anything but strong if she chooses abortion as a health/life saving measure. 

A woman with a debilitating condition should not face stigma for choosing abortion over chronic pain. 

A woman who has always wanted to bring a child in the world should be respected for her choice to give up her life for that child and for the experience of motherhood, no matter how fleeting.  

[queenozymandias]

So I’m a canvasser for the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, basically I do voter education and fundraise and sign up members to the fund. Today while I was out in downtown Portland, I met a woman who really brought home the importance of what I do.

It was towards the end of the day, a bit past...

[clinicdefense]

Here in Rhode Island we are actively engaged in clinic defenses and would be very interested in whatever advice you have, but in fact your website lacks any advice on clinic defense and has not been active for some time. What's up?

Life has been busy and this is a side project of mine. I am back to work on things. Stay tuned for updates :)

[clinicdefense]

Free Speech? Nah. Not in Michigan...

While I am certainly not the first to speak on this issue, I have no problem adding my voice to the outrage. 

State Reps. Lisa Brown, D-West Bloomfield, and Barb Byrum, D-Onondaga, were told today that they wouldn’t be recognized to publicly speak on any matters before the House because of comments they made Wednesday during an emotional debate on a bill that puts new restrictions on abortion providers.

What were their emotional remarks? Well, one woman DARED to say Vagina. The other was outraged by the limitations this bill placed on women's access to care.  A) Emotion is everywhere in politics. I know we have all become accustomed to the Romney-Bot, but I assure you emotion is an acceptable part of the political process (as long as this emotion is preceded/followed by reason, which it was.)

B) When you, a penis having individual, starts making laws that affect my vagina, expect me to get emotionally involved. Our vaginas are OUR business.  More on this story here: http://www.freep.com/article/20120614/NEWS15/120614049/Michigan-house-representatives-abortion-comments

Want to fight back? 

Jase Bolger Speaker of the House

District 63 [email protected] Ph: 517.373.1787 

Jim Stamas

Majority Floor Leader

District 98 [email protected]

Ph: 517.373.1791 

Tweet them! @MIHouseGOP

Contact the MI GOP directly: MI GOP Contact Form

I just called both Stamas and Bolger and left detailed voicemails about their fear of vaginas. I reminded them they came from a vagina once and their mothers vagina certainly wasn't offensive. I also created a special Vagina song for Stamas :)

[itsugarmania-blog]

Abortion in the United States. The numbers, the facts, the truth.

[stfuprolifers]

I got my Human Sexuality class to watch this.  I wanted them to get the facts, but I totally forgot the clear pro-choice message at the end.  But I’m glad the class appreciated getting the facts though, regardless of what their views were.

[clinicdefense]

UPDATE: Violence-inciting comments disappear from LifeSiteNews

I was a bit amazed yesterday at how quickly word spread of the comments on a LifeSiteNews article on the firebomb left at a Wisconsin Planned Parenthood. 

Obviously, as word spread in the pro-choice community, the anti-choice folks caught wind.  Some of the comments, essentially the most openly criminal, have disappeared from the site. Either lifesite took luke-warm action (many comments still exist, included below) or the worst of the commenters, Isaiah541, decided to to try and cover up his/her attempts to incite violence in the anti-choice community. 

Below is various screen shots of remaining comments (not nearly as inflamitory as the deleted comments) as well as screen captures showing the official comment count of the story at "29" and the actual comment count in the comment section at "21" indicating that comments have been removed or deleted. 

Keep in mind LifeSite has any pro-choice comments deleted within hours of their appearance on the site. LifeSite heavily moderates their comments and they knowingly let the now deleted comments stay posted on their site, visibile to  the several people who viewed the page. The story was shared on facebook over 360 times, imagine if each of those shares had a minimum of 50 friends? Easily over 18000 people could have read comments that encouraged violence against abortion care facilities and providers. 

I fear for escorts, volunteers, patients, staff, and physicians at facilities around the country (and now more and more abroad in countries where abortion was previously not contested) if the current culture of violence against abortion care goes unchecked and unnoticed. 

To see original post: Disturbing Trend...

Below is image showing the official comment count associated with this article. 

Now, look at the actual count of comments that are visible. Comments have been either removed from the site or deleted by the author. The count is 21. 

Now, a sample of the remaining posts. While they are in no way as incriminating as the original posts, they still suggest that it might be OK to use violence to prevent women from obtaining abortion care. 

This last one upsets me, especially when you read the responses One of the commenters shared a story of a female family member who had an abortion under coercion (an unwanted, forced pregnancy choice is a tragedy. Coercion in any form is a tragedy). How is it I, an evil pro-choicer, can feel more sympathy and empathy for than woman than a "loving" anti-choicer?

AGAIN: If you ever witness any sort of comment or discussion where violence against clinics and clinic staff is being encouraged, please take a screen shot and submit an FBI tip. Print a copy of your screen shot or submit it to our blog for a permanent record. 

HOW TO TAKE A SCREEN SHOT        {}       FBI TIP LINE

[clinicdefense]

Disturbing Trend of Recruitment for Anti-Choice Violence at LifeSiteNews.com

I originally started working on a blog post about the presence of anti-choice sentiments in support of clinic terrorism and had the misfortune of opening up a LifeSiteNews.com article about the bombing. What I discovered in the comments section of the article is deeply troubling. 

Of course, I was expecting to see plenty of comments along the lines of "What he did was wrong but, THEY KILL BABIES." I did NOT expect to see individuals encouraging others to engage in violent acts. 

Original Link: http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/man-accused-of-trying-to-set-planned-parenthood-clinic-on-fire-appears-in-c/

Tip has been submitted to the FBI. This appears to be early attempts at recruitment and organizing. If you ever see this sort of talk going on in public, take a screen shot and submit report to FBI. Save screen shots if needed later.(Or submit to our blog)

How to take a Screen Shot

FBI Tip Line

[keepyourbsoutofmyuterus-blog]

They have 89 signatures and want 100. We can get them there, right Tumblr?

Bill (HB1390) is on Governor Phil Bryant’s desk.

His twitter, facebook, contact info.

For more info

[NB: More people than just cis women are affected by this anti-choice legislation]

[keepyourbsoutofmyuterus-blog]

[keepyourbsoutofmyuterus-blog]

Let's talk PATTERNS...

[clinicdefense]

Via: http://keepyourboehneroutofmyuterus.tumblr.com/

Oct 1999: Man sets fire to PP clinic in Sioux Falls, SD

May 28, 2000: Clinic in Concord, NH, was set on fire (for the SECOND time)

June 11, 2001: Bombing at Tacoma, Washington, clinic destroyed a wall

July 4, 2005: Palm Beach, FL, clinic target of arson

Dec. 12, 2005: Man and woman throw Molotov Cocktail at Shreveport, LA, clinic

Sept. 13, 2006: Man rams car into PP clinic in Davenport, Iowa. Gets out, douses lobby in gasoline, and sets it on fire.

April 25, 2007: Explosive device left outside PP in Austin, TX

May 2007: Arson at Virginia Beach PP (can't find good link...sorry)

Dec. 6, 2007: Two men set fire to abortion clinic in Albuquerque, NM

Jan. 23, 2009: Dude drives SUV into PP clinic in St. Paul, Minnesota

Sept. 2, 2010: Fire in PP clinic in Madera, California

Jan. 1, 2012: Arson at Pensacola, FL Abortion Clinic

Wikipedia's page dedicated to Anti-abortion violence, with a sub-section on arson

[keepyourbsoutofmyuterus-blog]

@michelleinbklyn:

The office of TX State Sen. Wendy Davis was just firebombed. She’s an outspoken Planned Parenthood supporter - I interviewed her last month.

No one was hurt.

[clinicdefense]

Private Records of Pro-Choice Ob-Gyn's Stolen in GA

While the motives behind the theft of laptops containing the contact details of over 1000 Ob-Gyn's in Georgia are unclear, one can't help but speculate as to who could benefit from such a theft.

The victim of the theft is The Georgia Obstetrical & Gynecological Society, an organization that has taken a stand against new anti-choice legislation in the state. According to police, the theft appeared well thought out which is not typical of normal theft cases. 

In a statement made by Dr. David Byck, the groups president: "The police officers said that the break-in looked well planned, and it's frightening that the personal and family information of our membership has been stolen..."

Frightening doesn't even begin to describe the feelings associated with this incident. We have already witnessed a terrifying trend towards normalizing and almost legalizing attacks on abortion care providers and their facilities. 

Last year in SD, lawmakers attempted a bill which included language that could make the murder of abortion care providers legal as long as you could claim you were acting in "defense of the unborn". 

Currently, TN is trying to create a state maintained database AKA hit-list of all doctors performing abortion procedures in the state.

While I will keep hoping this break in was NOT related to anti-choice terrorism, I will focus most of my energy on hoping for the well being of anyone who's contact information was contained in these laptops.

[clinicdefense]

What Rep. Matthew Hill of Tennessee is up to...

A scary new piece of legislation has been introduced in Tennessee, legislation that could mandate the state create detailed lists of the MD's who perform abortion procedures and identifying statistical info on each of their patients.

Essentially, the state will create a convenient list for anyone interested in harassing MD's who perform abortions or their patients. Here are some of the highlights:

"A report of each abortion performed shall be made to the department of health"

     While the bill does specify that patients will not be identified by name, it does require the following information be disclosed about each INDIVIDUAL patient (i.e. this is not statistics. This is identifying information that paints a specific portrait of each patient down to their county of residence): 

     (1) Identification of the physician who performed the abortion and

          the physician’s office, clinic, hospital or other facility

     (2) The county and state in which the woman resides

     (3) The woman’s age, race and marital status; 

     (4) The number of prior pregnancies and prior abortions of the woman; 

     (5) The gestational age in number of weeks of the fetus at time of abortion 

     (6) The type of procedure performed or prescribed and the date of the 

          abortion

     (7) Pre-existing medical conditions of the woman which would complicate 

          pregnancy, if any, and, if known, any medical complication which

          resulted from the abortion itself.

The bill does detail that this information will be used for statistical purposes, it does not state what will be done to keep the health information confidential in the process of reporting. The bill does let us know that anyone who "willfully discloses any information obtained from reports filed" is simply guilty of a misdemeanor. Let's just ignore the fact that disclosure of such private health information regarding abortion can lead to harassment or even violence against the individual. But if you happen to be the underpaid pro-life (or crooked and offered a bribe) clerk of the county who is tasked with entering this information into a database, it may be worth the slap on the wrist to provide this information to anti-choice harassment groups. 

Meanwhile, if you are late in submitting your reports or forget to send a few along you can loose your license. You know, that thing you went through 10+ years of medical training for? Your livelihood? 

To view bill in its full text visit here: http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/107/Bill/HB3808.pdf

The language in this bill does not even touch on HIPPA requirements for the confidentiality of patient records. Further, the level of statistical information required does not jive up. What we have is yet another bit of legislation aimed at creating more paperwork for abortion care providers and thus more opportunities to screw up and loose your license. Further, the bill suggests 

Want to get in touch with the bills sponsor, Rep. Matthew Hill? 

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Email: [email protected]

Able to get in touch with him? Hit the share button up top and share his response!