Jun 3rd, 2009
Posted by Lorraine Kenny, Reproductive Freedom Project at 7:13pm	Reproductive Freedom

Keep Abortion Providers Safe Now

On Sunday, May 31, Dr. George Tiller, a doctor in Wichita, Kansas, who for decades provided abortions for women even in the face of harassment and violence, was murdered at his place of worship. Sondra Goldschein and Allie Bohm attended events in New York City and Washington, D.C., honoring Dr. Tiller's life.

Sondra Goldschein writes:

When I heard about the murder of Dr. Tiller on Sunday evening, I went from shock to tears to fear to loss. I could feel those emotions but I couldn't put into words what a tragedy his death is. I finally found the words from Dr. Tiller himself.

I attended one of at least forty events across the country honoring Dr. Tiller's life on Monday night. I was one of a large group of people in downtown Manhattan who heard a story about Dr. Tiller that cut to the core of who this remarkable man was. The story was told by New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.

As many of us have now heard, Dr. Tiller was shot in both arms in 1993. What we haven't heard as much is that he came back to work the very next day. Why? When he needed medical attention, he had received it. His patients needed his care and he was going to be there. "There was never any question in my mind that I was going back to work the next day."

Dr. George Tiller truly understood that a woman facing an unintended pregnancy should have the opportunity to make the best decision for herself and her family, whether her decision is raising a child, adoption, or abortion. He respected women and their decisions, and with his wonderful staff, was there to help women from all over the country. According to Dr. Tiller, "abortion is about women's hopes, dreams, potential, the rest of their lives. Abortion is a matter of survival for women. . . . It is my fundamental philosophy that patients are emotionally, mentally, morally, spiritually and physically competent to struggle with complex health issues and come to decisions that are appropriate for them."

Thank you, Dr. Tiller, for your humanity, your bravery, and for treating women with dignity and respect.

Allie Bohm writes:

"When you come here, bring only love . . ." read the banner that backdropped the Washington DC vigil in honor of Dr. Tiller. Some 200 people circled the banner, standing in front of the White House. One woman tearfully read prepared remarks, and then the floor was opened up, and women and men of all ages came forward to speak as the spirit moved them. Some of them knew Dr. Tiller personally. Many did not. Some were long-time veterans of the pro-choice movement; for others, Dr. Tiller's murder had galvanized them to come to a pro-choice event for the first time.

"When you come here, bring only love . . ." Many of us in DC live in a heady world of policy debates, political statements, and moralizing. Dr. Tiller did not. Speaker after speaker emphasized that while we debate policy, the doctors, nurses, and receptionists in abortion clinics see their jobs as helping women and providing health care services, not as making a political statement. Dr. Tiller is a hero to many of the vigil's attendees and a martyr to others. But, he did not set out to be a hero or a martyr. He set out to be a doctor. The speakers who knew Dr. Tiller emphasized his compassion and understanding for women.

One of the vigil's speakers was a man who has been a clinic escort for 20 years, influenced by a high school classmate of his who died from a botched illegal abortion before Roe v. Wade; at the time she could not afford to go to NY for a safe legal abortion. Those of us who work in the policy sphere sometimes forget that access to safe abortion is a public health issue. He said, "I do not want my son to have to continue escorting when I finally retire."

At the same time, a young woman who works with college students reported that in April Dr. Tiller told her, "Now, it's your generation's turn." It is now all of our turns. Doctors should not have to risk their lives so that women do not have to die from pregnancy complications or back-alley abortions. As signs at the DC vigil read, it is time to "keep abortion providers safe now."

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1. Aaron Says:
   Jun 4th, 2009 at 1:02pm

   All due respect to Dr. Tiller... I didn't know the man and I'm sure he didn't deserve to be killed by an extremist.

   Nevertheless, this article dodges the reason that Dr. Tiller became a target of such intense hatred from the anti-abortion groups. He did not just perform abortions, but he performed late-term abortions.

   No matter what Dr. Tiller's actions, they don't justify vigilantism. But if you want to defend his memory, then he deserves a defense of the especially controversial parts of his work.

   Late term abortions that are not medically necessary for the health of the mother are illegal in Kansas, and yet Dr. Tiller was never convicted of anything, despite a DA who obviously had him in his sights (after a failure to get an indictment in one case and a failure to convict in another). This indicates that the late-term abortions he performed were considered by juries to be medically necessary and within the law. I think it is worth mentioning these facts, for those who will argue that he wasn't just a regular abortionist.

2. liberal hater Says:
   Jun 4th, 2009 at 3:20pm

   How about making the title of this article KEEP BABYS IN THE WOMB SAFE NOW.
   Well with Tiller the Killer gone for 4 days now I wonder how many viable babies are still intact in the womb and will probably be born unless that baby murderer Carhart gets his hands on them.

   Only radical, left-wing liberals like the ACLU could mourn a cold-hearted baby killer like Tiller.

3. Bill- ABQ NM Says:
   Jun 5th, 2009 at 7:55pm

   Honoring a person who, in simple terms, pulled a near-birth baby from a womb, pierced its neck with a surgical vacum and sucked it's living brain out, is not worth honoring. Certainly, killing him is wrong, as wrong as the lives he took over the years. "By the sword" seems to come into play here---- how can you support abortion, and decry capital punishment? It goes both ways- doesn't matter, the ACLU will likely not allow this post because it opposes their liberal opinion- free speach, yeah, if it agrees with a liberal agenda!

4. sherman Francis Says:
   Jun 7th, 2009 at 5:17pm

   Why is this action not considered terrorism by the right wing press? How many more acts must doctors endure before these hateful actions are considered terrorists acts?

5. Lori Bowles Says:
   Jun 9th, 2009 at 5:05pm

   I agree all of these actions and protests outside of clinics should be considered pre-attacks on now, no person should have to be escorted to see a doctor! This doctor was a hero and the sick and twisted that don't understand that point need to stop drinking the kool-aid.
   To this date the FBI still will not call these people what they really are Christian Fundamentalists they are in fact domestic terrorist. The FBI is quick to point out Muslim Fundamentalist whats wrong with this picture! Lets start opening our eyes and cleaning out the garbage starting with these radicals that want to break the laws and intimidate people by force, they thugs.

6. Live & Let Live!! Says:
   Jun 9th, 2009 at 7:31pm

   An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

   What goes around, comes around..

   What else can I say...

7. Paen Says:
   Jun 10th, 2009 at 1:36pm

   Once again the fanatics for forced breeding show how pro life they really are.

8. Nancy Says:
   Jun 11th, 2009 at 7:41pm

   I am sorry for the death of Dr. Tiller. Lord have mercy on this man, I pray that he is not in hell.

9. Maggie Says:
   Jun 11th, 2009 at 7:44pm

   I am pro choice for early termination. However, killing a baby that is viable gives me pause to re-evaluate my thinking.

   I don't believe that doctors or clinic workers should be harmed in any way. I also don't believe that protesters from any side should be allowed out in front of any of these clinics.

   But if this Doctor was killing viable babies then he is no hero. He knew exactly what he was doing. That does not mean that he should have been harmed. There are nuts on both sides.

10. LIFE Says:
    Jun 11th, 2009 at 10:10pm

    Dr. Tiller was wrong! Choosing to destroy an unborn baby means selfishness, pride and disrespect of human life. Women who give birth to unplanned babies are brave, strong, and choose to be optimistic about their futures.

    Face the facts: Tiller did not represent humanity nor was he respectful of women because he harmed their babies. Fact: Tiller harmed the innocent,some supported him, many let him harm their babies, and he was placed on a pedestal. How scary is that America! Now that's sad! We should all mourn the deaths of destroyed lives, and thank God that He gives them a place in heaven with Him regardless of how they died.
    Lori, Christ would never harm the lives of unborn babies, born babies, toddler, youngsters, teenagers, adults (like Tiller), nor the elderly. He taught that life is priceless from conception and that no life is more valuable than another whether inside or outside of the womb.
    Paen,
    Forced breeding means that someone was forced to get pregnant. Most likely the act before the pregnancy was a choice.

11. saki Says:
    Jun 13th, 2009 at 7:12pm

    I wonder if the murderer ever read the ten commandments?

12. Mona Says:
    Jun 17th, 2009 at 6:21pm

    Youtube "partial birth abortion" watch and I'll bet you will change your mind about Tiller. He performed thousands of these. I know it changed my mind about the procedure! Barbaric and inhumane! Those poor babies that endured this painful brutality! My heart aches for every one of them.

13. Real Freedom Says:
    Jul 7th, 2009 at 6:37pm

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g46hlT_2804

    If you really think partial birth abortions should be legal, then just watch a video on how exactly it is done. If you are very confident with your pro-choice position, then you will not mind watching what you advocate.

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