FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Refuse & Resist! National Office
tel: 212-965-9030
http://www.refuseandresist.org
WICHITA, July 13 - Refuse & Resist! members from Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, and New York are gathering here to join with the Wichita Alliance for Choice and other organizations in opposing the anti-abortion group Operation Save America (OSA) in its announced efforts to close women's reproductive health clinics.
OSA was formerly called Operation Rescue, and, as that group, blockaded Wichita clinics 10 years ago, particularly that of Dr. George Tiller. They announced earlier this year that they were returning to Wichita, "this time to finish it." Their main target is Dr. Tiller, one of a handful of physicians who specializes in abortion in the later months of pregnancy and whose clients come from all over the U.S. and many foreign countries.
In 1993 anti-abortion protestor Shelley Shannon shot Dr. Tiller outside his clinic. Fortunately, the doctor turned his body at the last minute and was wounded in his arms only. He returned to the clinic the next day and stated his intention to continue providing abortions.
"Dr. Tiller is a hero for continuing to assist women, despite almost being murdered and enduring ongoing harassment by anti-abortion protestors," one R&R! activist said. "We are here to defend him and his clinic and to unite with Wichita residents in getting out a strong pro-choice, pro-woman message wherever the antis go."
With three abortion doctors, one clinic escort and three workers murdered by antiabortion protestors since 1995, OSA's statement that they intend "to finish it" can only be interpreted as a serious threat, according to Refuse & Resist! R&R! stated: "OSA has mobilized their troops to come to Wichita to terrorize, harass, and intimidate doctors, clinic staff and women seeking abortions. No matter what OSA claims, the abortion battle is not about 'life.' It is about enforcing traditional patriarchal relations and controlling women."
Their agenda is more far-reaching than abortion. In the early 80's one of the architects of the right-wing religious movement, Richard Vigurie, said, 'the abortion issue is the door through which many people come into conservative politics, but they don't stop there.' And the religious right has acted on that, as demonstrated by OSA's stated intention to protest outside gay bars and progressive churches in Wichita.
"This is why R&R! says 'It's all one attack' and calls on all people to stand up and resist such attacks. Doctors who perform abortions put their lives on the line daily and are heroes for providing this valuable service and helping women live their lives as they wish. Without providers there is no 'choice.'"
Abortion providers continue to be targeted in other ways, as well, including bogus legal cases. In January 2001, Dr. James Pendergraft an African American abortion provider in Ocala, Florida who also performs high-risk late term abortions, was convicted of false Federal Extortion charges and sentenced to 4 years in prison. This is an unprecedented case where the local church leaders worked hand in hand with the openly anti-abortion county commissioner and FBI agent to eliminate the only abortion provider in town. This politically motivated criminal prosecution represents a new front of attacks on providers to criminalize them and drive them out of practice.
Refuse & Resist! is a national anti-repression organization building "a climate, culture and community of resistance against today's national agenda of repression and cruelty, poverty and punishment."
[posted 7/14/01]
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