Operation Rescue National and the American Family Association are mobilizing in Orlando, Florida May 31-June 7 to enforce their anti-woman, anti-gay, pro-censorship agenda. They have announced plans for actions at nearby abortion clinics; at Disney World (to protest what they call its "promotion of the homosexual lifestyle" by allowing "Gay Day" on June 6 and offering employee benefits to same-sex partners); and Barnes and Noble bookstores (to protest art books with photos of nude children which they call "child pornography.")
They call it "Operation Push Back." We say, "Push Back the Christian Fascists!"
Their campaign is coming just days after an obviously coordinated series of destructive attacks on 10 Florida women's clinics (one in Orlando and two in Daytona on May 16; five in Miami May 22; and two in Tampa/St. Petersburg May 24). Butyric acid, a poisonous, noxious and dangerous chemical that can be deadly in high concentrations, was sprayed into the clinics through holes drilled in the doors or through mail slots. At one Miami clinic, which was open at the time, a man opened the door and threw a package with the acid inside, causing three women to suffer respiratory problems. In this context especially we cannot let clinics or others under attack go undefended or remain vulnerable!
In Dayton, Ohio last July, Operation Rescue tried to close women's clinics and promote the lie that "abortion is murder." But Refuse & Resist! united with local activists to defend the clinics and get out the message that abortion providers are heroes - and our banner with this slogan got into the news every day. On January 22nd, the 25th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision making abortion legal (the Roe V. Wade decision), tens of thousands of anti-abortion forces went to D.C. and tried to dominate the media - but we were there with our message that "They Can't Have Our Day or Our Lives!" It was definitely a day when our side was heard, and the media reported that "both sides" were in the streets! After the January 29 bombing at a Birmingham abortion clinic, which killed a security guard and severely injured a nurse, national organizations mobilized to support the clinic and a major event with well-known speakers was held there on March 14th which declared "We're Drawing the Line in Birmingham!"
Through all this, the pro-choice and progressive community generally has begun to build new momentum and to set new standards for our movement - to support abortion providers and counter the anti-women forces in the media, at the clinics, and wherever they attempt to go on the offensive.
Now in Florida they are throwing down another challenge. By targeting abortion clinics, Disney (for what they see as gay-friendly policies), and bookstores which carry controversial books, they are pushing a broader reactionary agenda. There is both a necessity and an opportunity in Orlando to contest their message and counter their actions. We must resist their attempted disruptions and refuse to go along with their program of reactionary "traditional family values." As R&R! says, "It's all one attack!"
The attacks must be taken on in many ways and on many levels:
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[posted June 1, 1998]
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