from SLATE: All major US newspapers front > the murder of George Tiller, one of the few doctors in the country who provided late-term abortions. Tiller, who had survived numerous attacks throughout the years, was shot and killed yesterday in the lobby of his church in Whichita, Kan., where he was serving as an usher. Police later apprehended a 51-year-old man. Police believe the gunman acted alone, but they're still investigating to see whether he had any connections to any one of the anti-abortion groups that frequently protested outside Tiller's practice was one of only three in the country that, under certain conditions, provided abortions to women in their third trimester. Of course, prominent anti-abortion groups denied they had anything to do with this and condemned the act. Tiller, 67, provided abortions for more than three decades and was often on the receiving end of threats and harassment from the most virulent opponents of the practice. His clinic was bombed in 1986 and he was shot in both arms in 1993. Tiller also successfully defended his practice in a number of legal challenges.
> Tiller is the fourth abortion provider to be killed in the United States > since 1993 and the first since 1998. The LA [TIMES] notes that the murder, > "plunges the debate over legalized abortion back in time," to an era when > attacks on abortion providers were distressingly commonplace. Attorney > General Eric Holder said last night that the U.S. Marshals Service will move > to protect abortion providers and facilities to "help prevent any related > acts of violence." Some note that while attacks may have dropped when > abortion foes had an ally in the White House with President Bush, that > doesn't mean it couldn't increase again now that there's a pro-choice > president. "When social movements feel they're not getting anywhere, they get > desperate," one sociology professor tells the LAT. "This is deeply tragic but > unsurprising." Others caution against tying the acts of radical extremists to > political trends. > Slate's Emily Bazelon writes in Double X that the killing of Tiller "is a > reminder, as if we needed one, of why so few doctors dare to become abortion > providers outside big cities, why even fewer perform late-term abortions, and > of the bravery it takes to be a member of these small bands."< by the Fugs: Kill, kill, kill for peace x2 Near or middle or very far east Far or near or very middle east Kill, kill, kill for peace x2 If you don't like the people or the way that they talk If you don't like their manners or they way that they walk, Kill, kill, kill for peace x2 If you don't kill them then the Chinese will If you don't want America to play second fiddle, Kill, kill, kill for peace x2 If you let them live they might support the Russians If you let them live they might love the Russians Kill, kill, kill for peace x2 (spoken) Kill 'em, kill 'em, strafe those gook creeps! The only gook an American can trust Is a gook that's got his yellow head bust. Kill, kill, kill for peace x2 Kill, kill, it'll feel so good, like my captain said it should Kill, kill, kill for peace x2 Kill it will give you a mental ease kill it will give you a big release Kill, kill, kill for peace x4 -- Jim Devine / "Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own way and let people talk.) -- Karl, paraphrasing Dante. _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
