Abortion services conference documents intimidation tactics of Operation Rescue

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Defeated in face-to-face mobilizations with pro-choice forces, Operation Rescue is focussing on the tactic of harassing doctors and individual healthcare providers. 4 SOCIALIST ACTION JUNE 1992 NO TURN ON RED The National Abortion Federation (NAF) held its annual conference in San Diego, Calif., on April 11-13, 1992. The conference drew doctors, administrators and clinic support staff involved in providing abortion and birth control services.

As part of the conference, a panel of doctors from all across the country gave dramatic testimony on the heightened campaign of anti-choice violence directed against them.

Almost as if to highlight the need for such a panel, two abortion clinics were bombed the weekend of the NAF conference. It was believed, however, that the incidents—one in Oregon and one in Ohio—were not related to the conference.

During the panel discussion numerous examples of Operation Rescue's tactics of harassment and intimidation were reported. These included:

• A prominent pro-choice activist who ALlE was also active in her church recently died. Anti-choice fanatics picketed at the cemetery and placed ads in the local newspapers that said the activist didn't deserve a "Christian" burial.

• A woman, 28-weeks pregnant with a hydroencephalitic fetus sought an abortion, but was unable to obtain one. Once anti-choice forces found out about her attempts to have an abortion, they hounded her daily during the rest of her pregnancy, including following her and calling her home. The fetus was born alive but did not survive long outside the womb.

• A doctor lost his three year-old child in an accident. Anti-choice fanatics taunted him, saying that since he killed other people's children, it was good he lost his own child.

• A Florida doctor reported that antichoicers plastered his town with "wanted" posters that advertised his name, address, phone number, and other personal information. The posters claimed that the doctor was wanted for "murder and child abuse" because of his pro-choice activities.

One doctor spoke about being a victin of the anti-choice movement's new strategy of getting at doctors through their families and communities. His wife was not able to handle the constant threats and taunts of the anti-choice movement, and grew less supportive of the doctor's work. The doctor felt he had to continue to provide this vital service to women. He was forced to choose his profession over his private life, and his marriage ended in divorce.

George Tillman, the main provider of abortion services in Wichita, Kansas, spoke about what it was like during Operation Rescue's six-week siege last summer. He described an elaborate scheme that was used to get women past Operation Rescue into the clinics.

Women seeking abortions were told to check into a certain hotel and use a cellular phone to call a secret phone number. The person on the other end would take the woman's phone number and call her back at a specified time. When the callback came, the woman was given the first name and the color of the van of someone who was coming to pick her up. She was told to stand outside of the hotel in a certain spot at a certain time, and to bring along only her identification and the money to pay for the abortion. The van picked her up and drove her to the clinic, often after regular hours.

Tillman described these schemes as reminiscent of 1965, when abortion was illegal, rather than 1991.

After the panel described these and other incidents of anti-choice terrorism, a discussion was held about how to respond. While it was acknowledged that the situation is unique and requires a unique response, two overall sentiments emerged from the discussion.

For the most part, doctors felt that fighting back—as opposed to maintaining a low profile—is a more effective strategy. It was expressed that "burying your head in the sand" only invited more antichoice terrorism and violence.

Doctors also emphasized the importance of community support for the clinic. The better the relationship between the clinic and the community, the better the response was against anti-choice terrorism.

Despite the growing anti-choice campaign against abortion providers, a couple of positive stories were also reported. One doctor used the small claims court system to sue the local leaders of Operation Rescue for interference with her business. She was able to garnish their wages and use the money to fund abortions for lowincome women.

Another doctor in Wisconsin provided a great example to all abortion providers. She had received word that Operation Rescue was going to target her home with massive picketing. After first worrying over how her neighbors would react, she decided to fight back. She organized her neighbors to protect their community by putting up lawn signs with the message that "outsiders" were not welcome in their neighborhood.

Next, the doctor organized a pro-choice block party for the day Operation Rescue was to show up and picket. When Operation Rescue arrived, they met over 500 pro-choice supporters armed with music, balloons, pro-choice signs, and food. The O.R. people were so outnumbered, their "massive" picket quickly fizzled out. •

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