A Terrible Loss

Dr. Tiller was an abortion world legend. His clinic was the very last chance for women and girls in the most desperate situations. Because he performed abortions further into pregnancy than any other U.S. provider, he was uniquely targeted by anti-choice extremists. His clinic was protested, barricaded, and bombed, he was shot in both arms, he had a bodyguard with him daily for 20 years.

That security apparently didn't follow him to church. It seems sensible to give the bodyguard time off when you are in a place of sanctuary. If this act was committed on behalf of a vengeful God, as is assumed, how could it have possibly been more twisted? There is no consolation in that irony, none at all.

I remember a girl I once referred to Dr. Tiller's clinic in Wichita. She was 13 years old. She was pregnant from one of the times her stepfather raped her. She didn't want to tell her Mom because she thought she would be blamed, she didn't want to let her mind remember that it happened, and she didn't know what pregnancy felt like. When we saw her, she was 23 weeks pregnant. Bless her mother, who was so concerned for her kid's best chance at recovery from the trauma that she made an appointment they couldn't afford with George Tiller. They borrowed money from all the women in their extended family and flew out there for a three-day procedure.

This is very, very bad news. It's life-changing news for Dr. Tiller's wife, four kids and ten grandkids. It's blow-to-the-chest stunning for his clinic staff and colleagues. It's disastrous news for the patients he was going to see this week -- patients that are too high-risk or too far along to be seen ANYWHERE as of now. And do not doubt it is a warning to abortion providers and clinic workers across the country.

What do we do? Brave, loving, dear friends at the clinic where I worked for years have reacted by turning their grief and anger into positive action. Please check out this blog, and help out with cash if you have it. http://www.hopeforchoice.blogspot.com/

Even more important, please talk about this. Say how wrong it is, then say it louder. Do a ritual, say a prayer, go to a vigil, write a letter...let our outrage be fucking deafening. Let us not ever, ever forget. Do not let the patriarchy distract us from demanding both justice and peace.

Courage,
Starla