by the Refuse & Resist! Reproductive Freedom Task Force
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When Clayton Waagner was recognized by a Kinko's employee in Cincinnati and arrested December 5, Attorney General John Ashcroft - busy providing justifications for secret military tribunals and the round-up of 1200+ people of Arab descent and other immigrants - used the arrest as a PR opportunity for his office. Waagner is being charged as the "lone originator" of over 550 anthrax threats sent to abortion providers since late September.
Even after letters sent to government offices and media outlets got immediate attention and tested positive for anthrax, there was no investigation into letters sent to abortion clinics. Finally, after the threats reached clinics in 13 states, the hypocrisy became so blatant that an investigation had to be opened. Even so, some clinics are still unable to get results from anthrax tests run in early November! This is nothing new. Past investigations into clinic bombings and murders of providers have often yielded nothing unless the perpetrators wanted to be caught.
In fact, the government did not connect the fugitive Waagner with the anthrax threats until he himself confessed. Neal Horsley, the creator of the virulently anti-abortion "Nuremberg files" website, revealed Waagner's confession November 23. He said Waagner visited him, allegedly holding him at gunpoint, and admitted to sending the anthrax threats to clinics. Despite the fact that Waagner contacted a well known anti-abortion crusader and used him to get his message out, US Attorney Gregory Lockhart told the Cincinnati Inquirer, "There was no indication Waagner was working in conspiracy with others."
Anthrax threats are not new to abortion clinics. In addition to bulletproof vests, security guards, bomb threat procedures and escorts to protect providers and patients, clinics workers routinely wear plastic gloves and masks when opening mail, have bags available to isolate contaminated or suspect items, and have a follow-up system that includes alerting other clinics and national pro-choice organizations. In response to threats to more than 80 clinics from late 1998 through 2000, the National Abortion Federation developed procedures for dealing with possible anthrax contamination. The FBI and ATF didn't share this expertise with the public, even when news media were broadcasting contradictory suggestions for avoiding contamination.
Certainly, pro-choice activists and women's health clinic workers all heaved a sigh of relief at Waagner's capture. But clinics and abortion rights have been under constant attack - lethal, legal, and legislative - for many years by conservative Christians with ties to anti-immigrant, anti-gay, and white supremacist groups. The capture of one man will not end these attacks. In fact, the climate of xenophobia and retribution in this country since September 11 is ripe for the growth of new virulent strains of reaction. These attacks will only end when the people refuse to allow this to happen to one more provider. We must build a movement to stand in between our providers and those determined to stop them from saving women's lives.
Now is the time to act!
* Get to know your local abortion providers, and find out how you can support them
* Organize your community to speak out against these attacks
* Start organizing now for the National Day of Appreciation for Abortion Providers 3/10/02
ABORTION ON DEMAND AND WITHOUT APOLOGY!
Refuse & Resist! Reproductive Freedom Task Force
305 Madison Ave.
New York, NY 10165
212-712-5657
rftf@refuseandresist.org
[posted 12/17/01]
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