Dr. David Gunn: Murdered on March 10, 1993.
Dr. Barnett Slepian: Murdered on October 23, 1998.
Dr. George Tiller: Murdered on May 31, 2009.
These are just three of the most sobering examples of the violence extremists have levied against abortion providers in the U.S.. Though threats of violence against abortion providers are prohibited by the FACE Act, they still occur regularly and put providers in a constant state of alert. What is terrorism if not this–the creation of a climate of fear?
Today is National Abortion Provider Appreciation Day, and those providers have never needed our support more. Currently in Wichita, Ks., Dr. Tiller’s replacement, Dr. Mila Means, is just the latest target of anti-abortion harassment by extremists determined to stop her from providing legal health-care services.
In honor of brave abortion providers such as Dr. Means, please sign this petition launched by the Feminist Majority Foundation. The petition urges Kansas attorney general Derek Schmidt and Sedgwick County District Attorney Nola Foulston to do everything in their power to stop the Wichita anti-abortion extremists and their terrorist agenda.
We cannot lose another champion for women’s rights. We must continue the fight against extremist campaigns of harassment and intimidation that seek to keep these brave doctors from providing women their human right of reproductive freedom. Proclaim your support for abortion providers on National Abortion Provider Appreciation Day.
Photo from Flickr user pdeonarain through Creative Commons.
