JASPER, LARAMIE, NOW BUFFALO
Women's rights latest target of right-wing terrorism
Racist, sexist, anti-gay extremists resort to murder
By Eleanor Dorritie
Buffalo, N.Y.
Once again, upstate New York has become the national focus
of the struggle over a woman's right to reproductive choice
with the cowardly assassination of Dr. Barnett Slepian, an
abortion provider.
On Oct. 24, as news of his death the night before was still
breaking, over 250 pro-choice activists of all ages gathered in
front of the clinic where Dr. Slepian had worked to protest
this atrocity.
Following the vigil, an ad hoc committee of pro-choice women
moved quickly to call for a rally in Buffalo on Oct. 31. It
will be an opportunity to stand up and speak out for those who
risk their lives to keep abortion legal and accessible.
Women who have for years escorted patients, and who in 1992
organized the monumental defeat of an "Operation Rescue"
attempt to shut down clinics here, quickly pulled the Oct. 24
event together. In spite of feeling deep shock and even fear,
progressive people mobilized in order to show that they would
not be intimidated by right-wing violence.
Bigotry leading to violence
Speaker after speaker pointed the finger of blame far beyond
Buffalo. The speakers traced the devastating path of this
bigotry and violence from the murder of James Byrd in Jasper,
Texas, to the killing of Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyo., to
the execution of Dr. Slepian.
Slepian was 52 years old and the father of four children,
ages 7 to 15. He was shot in the back by a sniper while in his
own home in the presence of his family. He had been the target
of anti-Semitism as well as every other kind of right-wing
assault because, despite attempts at intimidation, he had
steadfastly continued to provide abortions along with a wide
range of obstetrical services. He felt he had no choice but to
expose himself to risk because others with his skills feared
the consequences.
Dr. Slepian was the only doctor in Buffalo who still
accepted Medicaid patients for abortions.
The continuing violence of anti-choice forces in recent
years is part of a campaign of political terror aimed at
closing clinics and disabling abortion providers. The federal
government bears a lot of responsibility for failing to protect
abortion providers who have been publicly targeted by the
ultra-right.
Dr. Slepian's name was on an abortion hit list on the
Internet. Speakers at the rally resoundingly rejected this
hypocrisy and correctly blamed the bigots for creating and
condoning an environment of hatred and violence. In an
interview with the Buffalo News in 1995 following the killings
of five people at clinics in Florida and Massachusetts, Dr.
Slepian cited the link between anti-choice inflammatory
rhetoric at the clinics and real violence. He said, "When
you're using words like 'kill' and 'murder,' that's where it
can lead."
Some of the speakers were Dr. Slepian's obstetrics and
gynecology patients. Their stories of his gentle and respectful
care over the years were touching tributes in his honor,
showing the many kinds of health care services he provided.
Susan Dudley, deputy director of the National Abortion
Federation, said that terrorist actions such as killing Slepian
will not stop dedicated doctors from continuing to perform
abortions. Several doctors have already volunteered to take Dr.
Slepian's place, according to the New York Times.
A vibrant note of hope for women came from Junda Woo,
coordinator of Medical Students for Choice at the University at
Buffalo. She represents a new generation of doctors committed
to providing abortion services, despite increased efforts to
frighten them away.
The sentiment to renew activism was strongly expressed. "We
need to learn what our gay brothers and lesbian sisters learned
years ago: silence equals death," said Cathy McGuire, a member
of Buffalo Pro-Choice Network and a long-time clinic
escort.
Kathryn Mazursky, president of the Buffalo chapter of the
National Organization for Women, said we can no longer be
passive in the hope that others will carry on.
Beverly Hiestand, a nurse and long-time women's rights
leader in Buffalo, said, "Our anger tonight reaches past those
who actually commit these acts of violence. We turn our fury on
those who are behind them: those who want to take away the
gains won by women and all oppressed people."
The Oct. 31 rally will start at 1 p.m. at Niagara Square.
For information, call (716) 855-3055 or send e-mail to ywcaofwny@ aol.com.
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