The U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Department and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Kansas has launced an investigation into federal crimes in the connection with the Sunday murder of Dr. George Tiller.
The USDOJ released the following statement on their website: "The federal probe will consist of a thorough review of the evidence and an assessment of any potential violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act) or other federal statutes. The federal investigation will be conducted in close coordination with the Office of the Sedgwick County, Kan., District Attorney, and the state's ongoing murder prosecution will have the full support of federal investigators (http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2009/June/09-crt-555.html)."
Congress enacted the FACE Act in 1994 "to establish federal criminal penalties and civil remedies for violent, obstructionist or damaging conduct affecting reproductive health care providers and recipients (USDOJ)."
Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Loretta King has directed the U.S. Marshals Service to protect "appropriate people and facilities" following the May 31 murder of Dr. Tiller.
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To read the USDOJ's entire press release, please go to: http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2009/June/09-crt-555.html.
Showing posts with label Dr. George Tiller. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dr. George Tiller. Show all posts
Friday, June 5, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Planned Parenthood Statement on Dr. Tiller's Murder
The murder Sunday of a doctor who performed late-term abortions might not have come as a complete surprise, but it has saddened many in the pro-choice community. In fact, Dr. George Tiller had received death threats and a previous attempt on his life. Yet he continued to perform lat
e-term abortions when a woman's life was endangered.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America released a statement on Sunday, which reads as such:
"NEW YORK, NY — Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, today issued the following statement on the murder of reproductive health care provider Dr. George Tiller in Wichita, KS.
"The entire Planned Parenthood family is deeply saddened by the murder of Dr. George Tiller. While he was not a Planned Parenthood provider, he was an integral part of our community and his loss is felt by all of us. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and those close to him who are suffering a personal tragedy.
"Dr. Tiller was the epitome of high-quality medical care underscored by deep compassion for his patients. He provided critical reproductive health care services, including abortion services to women facing some of the most difficult medical circumstances. He was continually harassed by abortion opponents for much of his career — his clinic was burned down; he was shot by a health center protester; and he was recently targeted for investigation only to be acquitted by a jury just a few months ago. None of this stopped George Tiller from his commitment to providing women and their families with compassionate care that others were unwilling to offer.
"His death is an enormous loss for the patients who relied on him, his dedicated staff, the medical community and for women and their families across America." (Planned Parenthood Federation's website)
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The above statement, as well as a summary of Planned Parenthood Federation, can be read online at http://www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/planned-parenthood-federation-america-statement-murder-dr-george-tiller-27643.htm.
e-term abortions when a woman's life was endangered.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America released a statement on Sunday, which reads as such:
"NEW YORK, NY — Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, today issued the following statement on the murder of reproductive health care provider Dr. George Tiller in Wichita, KS.
"The entire Planned Parenthood family is deeply saddened by the murder of Dr. George Tiller. While he was not a Planned Parenthood provider, he was an integral part of our community and his loss is felt by all of us. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and those close to him who are suffering a personal tragedy.
"Dr. Tiller was the epitome of high-quality medical care underscored by deep compassion for his patients. He provided critical reproductive health care services, including abortion services to women facing some of the most difficult medical circumstances. He was continually harassed by abortion opponents for much of his career — his clinic was burned down; he was shot by a health center protester; and he was recently targeted for investigation only to be acquitted by a jury just a few months ago. None of this stopped George Tiller from his commitment to providing women and their families with compassionate care that others were unwilling to offer.
"His death is an enormous loss for the patients who relied on him, his dedicated staff, the medical community and for women and their families across America." (Planned Parenthood Federation's website)
******
The above statement, as well as a summary of Planned Parenthood Federation, can be read online at http://www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/planned-parenthood-federation-america-statement-murder-dr-george-tiller-27643.htm.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
What constitutes Domestic Terrorism?
How do we define domestic terrorism?
What comes to mind is often easier to describe: The September 11, 2001 (9/11) attacks; the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah building in Oklahoma City (April 19, 1995); the Anthrax and Ricin threats.
Back to the definition. Cornell University Law School defines domestic terrorism thus: "The term 'domestic terrorism' means activities that—
(A) involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State;
(B) appear to be intended—
(i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population;
(ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or
(iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and
(C) occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States (http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00002331----000-.html)."
Not something that a rational person would want to be associated with, right?
There are many issues that rely simply on personal preference: Do you prefer red or blue? Are you a summer or winter kind of person? Spaghetti with white or red sauce?
Then there are the heavy hitting issues that tend to polerize people. Abortion is one of these issues. People tend to consider themselves pro-life or pro-choice.
This morning, Dr. George Tiller was murdered while at church. Why did this horrible act take place? Apparently, someone was not thrilled with Dr. Tillman, especially the fact that he performed abortions.
In a press release, the National Organization for Women (NOW) states, "NOW Identifies Murder of Dr. George Tiller As Domestic Terrorism, Calls for Action from Justice Department and Homeland Security."
I'm sure that there are those who feel that Dr. Tiller "had it coming." But think for a minute. What happened when the U.S. was attacked during the 9/11 attacks? Yes, most of us were shook. But in the weeks and months following this, most of us decided, "I'm not going to let them stop me from doing..." I had taken part in a local 5K race in previous years. I had briefly wondered if I should take part in it after the attacks. But I did. Something along the line of "they won't stop me from doing this!" went through my head.
Chances are there will be doctors doing abortions. Abortion is legal. Murder isn't. And anyone who wants to change the system needs to do so within the confines of the law, not by using domestic terrorism.
What comes to mind is often easier to describe: The September 11, 2001 (9/11) attacks; the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah building in Oklahoma City (April 19, 1995); the Anthrax and Ricin threats.
Back to the definition. Cornell University Law School defines domestic terrorism thus: "The term 'domestic terrorism' means activities that—
(A) involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State;
(B) appear to be intended—
(i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population;
(ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or
(iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and
(C) occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States (http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00002331----000-.html)."
Not something that a rational person would want to be associated with, right?
There are many issues that rely simply on personal preference: Do you prefer red or blue? Are you a summer or winter kind of person? Spaghetti with white or red sauce?
Then there are the heavy hitting issues that tend to polerize people. Abortion is one of these issues. People tend to consider themselves pro-life or pro-choice.
This morning, Dr. George Tiller was murdered while at church. Why did this horrible act take place? Apparently, someone was not thrilled with Dr. Tillman, especially the fact that he performed abortions.
In a press release, the National Organization for Women (NOW) states, "NOW Identifies Murder of Dr. George Tiller As Domestic Terrorism, Calls for Action from Justice Department and Homeland Security."
I'm sure that there are those who feel that Dr. Tiller "had it coming." But think for a minute. What happened when the U.S. was attacked during the 9/11 attacks? Yes, most of us were shook. But in the weeks and months following this, most of us decided, "I'm not going to let them stop me from doing..." I had taken part in a local 5K race in previous years. I had briefly wondered if I should take part in it after the attacks. But I did. Something along the line of "they won't stop me from doing this!" went through my head.
Chances are there will be doctors doing abortions. Abortion is legal. Murder isn't. And anyone who wants to change the system needs to do so within the confines of the law, not by using domestic terrorism.
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