Adopt-a-Clinic Campaign:
Clinic Violence Overview
Step-by-Step Guide | Clinic Violence Overview
Overview of Violence Against Women's Health Clinics printable toolkit
Since the 1970s, anti-abortion extremists have
targeted women’s health care providers as a
part of an orchestrated campaign of violence
and intimidation. Many clinics have suffered
arson, butyric acid attacks, and death threats,
as well as demonstrations and harassment. In
the 1990’s anti-abortion violence turned
deadly, claiming the lives of nine people.
From its peak in 1994, anti-choice violence
decreased as a result of tougher federal and
state laws and massive pro-choice organizing
to support clinics.
Following the 2008 election, however,
extremist anti-abortion leaders vowed to “return
to the streets.” Tragically, on May 31st, 2009,
women’s healthcare provider Dr. George Tiller
was murdered by an extremist in Wichita, KS.
Protests and threats against vital women’s
health clinics are increasing in Alabama,
California, Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi,
Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
Anti-abortion violence and intimidation
threatens access to abortion services as well
as a host of comprehensive sexual and
reproductive health care services. Most
women’s health clinics provide a whole range
of services including gynecological and
prenatal care, routine cancer screening, HIV
testing, menopausal treatment, infertility
treatment, sexually transmitted infection
screening and treatment, and adoption and
family planning services.
According to the Feminist Majority
Foundation’s research, one in five clinics
experience unacceptably high levels of antiabortion
harassment and violence. Pro-choice
organizing is more important than ever to
preserve access to comprehensive
reproductive health care.
Federal and State Laws Against Anti-Abortion Violence
In 1994, national abortion rights advocates won
passage of the Freedom of Access to Clinic
Entrances Act (FACE). FACE creates federal
civil and criminal penalties for anyone who
intentionally uses force or the threat of force to
injure, intimidate or interfere with access to
reproductive health services. However, the
federal FACE Act is not always enough. California, Connecticut, the District of
Columbia, Kansas, Maine, Maryland,
Minnesota, Nevada, New York, North Carolina,
Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin have
enacted tougher state FACE laws to provide
even greater protection for reproductive health
care providers.
Many states, counties and cities have passed
buffer safety zone laws as well as laws
prohibiting residential picketing for additional
protection. Buffer safety zones create limits
prohibiting anti-abortion protesters from “congregating, picketing, patrolling,
demonstrating or entering” a specific area
around a clinic. Colorado, Massachusetts,
and Montana all have buffer safety zone laws.1
Residential picketing laws help keep clinic
doctors, staff, and family members safe from
intrusive and harassing picketing.
For more information about the Feminist
Majority Foundation’s National Clinic Access
Project, please visit http://feminist.org/rrights/ncapabout.asp
1 In Colorado, within 100 feet of any health care facility entrance,
patients cannot be approached within 8 feet without consent for the
purpose of leafleting, displaying a sign, or engaging in conversation. In
Massachusetts, an 18-foot buffer zone exists around clinic entrances.
Within the buffer zone, protesters must stay at least 6 feet away from
clinic workers and patients. In Montana, a 36-foot buffer zone exists,
within which protesters must remain 8 feet away from patients and
clinic workers
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