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Since 1993, Florida has been the site of escalating violence against abortion providers and clinics. Dr. David Gunn, Dr. John Britton and escort James Barrett were murdered at the hands of "peaceful" protesters outside the Pensacola clinics where they provided abortions. Ongoing attacks include clinic firebombings, anthrax threats, butyric acid attacks, a continuous campaign of intimidation and threats by anti-abortion protesters, and even demonstrations by the Ku Klux Klan in full uniform.
In this climate of violence against abortion providers, Dr. James Pendergraft, an African-American physician, has provided abortions for 12 years. Dr. Pendergraft, a Board Certified Ob/Gyn and High Risk Obstetrician, operates 5 full service women's health care facilities in Florida. He specializes in performing high risk termination procedures, which only a few physicians in the entire world are able to do. He has sacrificed his well being to provide safe abortion services to women who come to him from all over the country.
The blatant and aggressive campaign to keep Dr. Pendergraft from opening a clinic in Ocala, Marion County, Florida, began in 1997, with a letter from the Chairman of the Marion County Board of Commissioners. The letter informed Dr. Pendergraft that he was not welcome in the city of Ocala. (In 1989, the only abortion clinic in Ocala was burned to the ground and never re-opened.) Despite the roadblocks, Dr. Pendergraft succeeded in opening a clinic in July 1998. He then asked the city for permission to hire off-duty police officers for protection for his clinic, staff, and patients. This is common practice for many businesses, not just clinics. His request was arbitrarily denied, and Dr. Pendergraft filed a civil suit to challenge the decision. The decision was later overturned, but in the ongoing effort to keep Dr. Pendergraft out of Ocala, officials convinced the Federal Government that this civil suit was an attempt to extort money from Marion County. In the summer of 2000, Dr. Pendergraft was indicted on charges of Federal conspiracy, conspiracy to commit mail fraud and conspiracy to extort, which could carry a maximum of 30 years in prison, the revocation of his license, and $1 million in fines.
We, the undersigned, support Dr. Pendergraft because:
From the beginning in 1997, Ocala and Marion County politicians have engaged in a concerted, well-documented campaign to harass and intimidate Dr. Pendergraft.
Dr. Pendergraft has utilized the appropriate legal channels to seek reasonable protection for himself, his employees, and his patients.
Across the country, abortion providers are under legal, legislative, and violent attack, and we see Dr. Pendergraft's case as part of this climate of intimidation and elimination.
Dr. Pendergraft is a dedicated and respected doctor, providing safe reproductive health care to women who come to him from all over the country.
We strongly question the legitimacy of the indictment against Dr. Pendergraft. In all fairness, charges that are motivated by an anti-abortion political agenda should not be prosecuted.
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Right to Fight Defense Committee, c/o Orlando Women's Center, 1103 Lucerne Terrace, Orlando, FL 32806
[updated 9/19/00]
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