David S. Cohen > Quotes

“despite abortion being such a common and safe medical procedure, individuals who provide abortion care cannot count on their own personal safety, and partly because abortion providers are not safe, there are very few abortion providers in the United States. Because of their work, abortion providers have been murdered, shot, kidnapped, assaulted, stalked, and subjected to death threats. Their clinics have been bombed, attacked with noxious chemicals, invaded, vandalized, burglarized, and set ablaze.”
― David S. Cohen, Living in the Crosshairs: The Untold Stories of Anti-Abortion Terrorism

“Individual abortion providers have been picketed at home and have received harassing mail and phone calls. Their family members have been followed where they work, their children have been protested at school, and their neighbors’ privacy has been invaded.”
― David S. Cohen, Living in the Crosshairs: The Untold Stories of Anti-Abortion Terrorism

“As a result of the threats, Dr. Tiller lived with US Marshal protection at various times in his life. In addition, Dr. Tiller wore a bulletproof vest to work, strategically took different routes on his way to the clinic, and usually drove in the right-hand lane because a security expert had told him this technique gave potential attackers fewer angles of approach.12 Dr. Tiller’s experiences with these constant threats, harassment, and attacks took place against a backdrop of increasing violence against abortion providers in the United States. Starting in the 1970s and escalating through the 1980s, abortion clinics regularly suffered bombings, arsons, and chemical weapon attacks committed by anti-abortion protesters. Protesters also developed intricate methods to physically blockade entrances to clinics, including chaining themselves underneath cars and placing their heads in cement blocks deposited in front of clinic doorways.”
― David S. Cohen, Living in the Crosshairs: The Untold Stories of Anti-Abortion Terrorism

“giving in to harassment and intimidation is what allows fascists and bullies to succeed,”
― David S. Cohen, Living in the Crosshairs: The Untold Stories of Anti-Abortion Terrorism

“A recent study found that states with the most restrictive laws concerning abortion have the highest reported incidences of harassment and vandalism directed toward abortion providers,”
― David S. Cohen, Living in the Crosshairs: The Untold Stories of Anti-Abortion Terrorism

“More directly, almost two decades ago, a prominent anti-abortion extremist appeared on a Christian radio station and talked specifically about Warren Hern. Hern explained, “He invited his listeners to assassinate me. By name. Mentioned my name, quoted scripture, said that I should die.”
― David S. Cohen, Living in the Crosshairs: The Untold Stories of Anti-Abortion Terrorism

“Women came to Dr. Tiller from around the country for abortions because of extreme fetal anomalies and severe maternal health complications that developed after the sixth month of pregnancy.”
― David S. Cohen, Living in the Crosshairs: The Untold Stories of Anti-Abortion Terrorism

“Extreme forms of violence and aggression against individuals involved in abortion care, like Dr. Tiller’s assassination, make local, if not national, headlines when they occur. But these extreme examples hardly represent the full extent of the ways in which abortion opponents terrorize providers. Other forms of harassment occur much more frequently but go almost completely unnoticed in national headlines. While a media outlet will occasionally feature an in-depth story about a particular provider and her day-to-day struggles dealing with harassment from abortion opponents, this type of harassment usually flies under the radar of the national consciousness and discourse surrounding abortion.”
― David S. Cohen, Living in the Crosshairs: The Untold Stories of Anti-Abortion Terrorism

“Providers know that, too often, anti-abortion protesters’ activity is branded as just another form of speech and protest protected by the First Amendment.”
― David S. Cohen, Living in the Crosshairs: The Untold Stories of Anti-Abortion Terrorism

“According to data from the Feminist Majority Foundation, individualized targeting has been on the rise. In 2014, the organization surveyed abortion clinics in the United States and found that there are “significantly higher levels of threats and targeted intimidation of doctors and staff than in prior years.” Moreover, “the overall percentage of clinics impacted by these types of threats and targeted intimidation tactics increased dramatically since 2010, from 26.6% of clinics to 51.9% of clinics.”22 This”
― David S. Cohen, Living in the Crosshairs: The Untold Stories of Anti-Abortion Terrorism

“anti-abortion websites that have also published information about her and her family, such as their names and license plate numbers.”
― David S. Cohen, Living in the Crosshairs: The Untold Stories of Anti-Abortion Terrorism

“a 1967 study estimated that 800,000 illegal abortions were performed each year.”
― David S. Cohen, Living in the Crosshairs: The Untold Stories of Anti-Abortion Terrorism

“Dr. Tiller also experienced attacks and threats that, although they garnered less attention, nonetheless affected his day-to-day life. He was the subject of repeated death threats, as were members of his family and clinic staff. Old West–style “Wanted” posters with Dr. Tiller’s name, picture, and personal information appeared throughout Wichita. The signs offered a vague “reward” for Dr. Tiller. Anti-abortion demonstrators picketed Dr. Tiller’s home and stalked his wife. They also repeatedly showed up at Dr. Tiller’s church, harassing the congregants and interrupting services.11 Dr. Tiller significantly altered his life to deal with the constant harassment and threats.”
― David S. Cohen, Living in the Crosshairs: The Untold Stories of Anti-Abortion Terrorism

“These murders have not been the only incidents of violence against individual abortion providers. Other providers have been kidnapped, shot, bombed, and attacked. Scott Roeder existed on the fringes of this violent anti-abortion movement in the years before he ultimately killed Dr. Tiller.”
― David S. Cohen, Living in the Crosshairs: The Untold Stories of Anti-Abortion Terrorism

“law can be improved to better address abortion providers’ experiences with targeted harassment.”
― David S. Cohen, Living in the Crosshairs: The Untold Stories of Anti-Abortion Terrorism

“Donald Yates, a longtime clinic owner and physician in a South Atlantic state, routinely ended his workday to find his car tires punctured.”
― David S. Cohen, Living in the Crosshairs: The Untold Stories of Anti-Abortion Terrorism