HotSpots, June 8–July 31, 2007

HotSpots is a summary of incidents of harassment and violence directed at Planned Parenthood affiliates, national offices, and other reproductive health care providers, produced monthly by The Security Group, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc.

Wisconsin  07/26/07–07/29/07  “Paul Hill Memorial Days,” organized by Drew Heiss and George Wilson, drew several other individuals from the extreme wing of the anti-choice movement. The featured “reenactment,” billed by its organizers as a “tasteful and educational” commemoration of Paul Hill’s murder of Dr. Britton and his security escort in Pensacola, was conducted in a public park.

Iowa  07/17/07  A patient, early for her appointment at a Planned Parenthood health center, turned into an adjacent parking lot, made sure she knew exactly where the clinic was, then drove across the street to a fast food restaurant.  One of the protesters from in front of the clinic followed her into the restaurant, asked if she had driven by looking for Planned Parenthood, and offered to “educate” her. She ignored the individual, but a restaurant employee came over and told the protester to leave the building immediately, and to leave the woman alone. The protester left without further incident.

Alabama  07/14/07–07/21/07  Operation Save America’s annual summer event targeting abortion providers was held in Alabama. The event drew approximately 150 protesters, many of whom were children, to picket and pray at a Planned Parenthood health center and two additional non-Planned Parenthood health centers. There were two arrests in the course of the week.

Multiple Affiliates — Mid-July  Close on the heels of the phishing calls described below, a large number of Planned Parenthood affiliates were contacted by a male caller who used a variety of pseudonyms. He asked to speak with development staff and then offered to make a donation if the affiliate could guarantee that his gift would be used to fund abortions for minority and/or immigrant women.

Florida  07/13/07  Approximately a week after an incident of vandalism (see below) the same Planned Parenthood health center had their first protesters in many years.

Buffalo  NY  07/13/07  US District Judge Richard Arcara denied the requests of James Kopp, convicted murderer of Dr. Barnett Slepian, to serve his prison term in New York and to serve his two life sentences concurrently. Kopp will serve his prison time in the Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary in Pennsylvania, one term at a time.

Kentucky  07/12/07  A Planned Parenthood affiliate received an envelope filled with white supremacist literature, including a letter (not personalized) from “Mike Burks,” the “State Fuhrer of the American Nazi Party.” He introduced himself as a “neighbor” and urged the affiliate to join him in his anti-minority, anti-immigrant efforts.

Texas  07/12/07  Security personnel from a building adjacent to a Planned Parenthood health center notified police about a protester with Bound for Life tape over his mouth who was in the clinic’s parking lot. He left without further incident after the police arrived. Four days later five “Bound for Lifers” protested at the health center, which does not usually experience protesters.

New York  07/11/07  A small Planned Parenthood health center is experiencing an increase in protester activity, including two incidents involving protesters blocking the entrance to the health center from the sidewalk. The police have been called to this site and have briefed the protesters on laws governing clinic access.

Oklahoma  07/09/07  Vandals wrote an anti-choice slogan on the window of a Planned Parenthood health center.

Michigan  07/06/07  A Planned Parenthood affiliate in Michigan reported a new round of previously noted automated calls requesting the recipient to push designated numbers on their telephone keypad to indicate their views on choice. No matter what you choose you end up hearing an anti-choice message. These calls have popped up in numerous states.

Virginia  07/06/07  Staff at a Planned Parenthood health center received a call that they felt sounded scripted, asking for information about ultrasound images, and pressing for information regarding whether they are shown to patients.

Florida  07/06/07   A Florida Planned Parenthood affiliate reports that the wall of one of their health centers was defaced with anti-choice graffiti sometime in the night. A police report was taken and a power wash company engaged to remove the graffiti.  Staff covered the graffiti in the interim so that it could not be read by arriving patients.

Multiple Affiliates — Early July  Many Planned Parenthood health centers reported receiving apparent “phishing calls” from a young woman who claimed to be 13 and pregnant. She requested abortion information and asked questions about consent requirements and whether her “21-year-old boyfriend” could accompany her to an appointment. In no case did the woman make an appointment.

New York  06/30/07  An employee passing a Planned Parenthood health center on the weekend noticed a man with red tape over his mouth standing on the property. Local law enforcement was called and the man left when confronted by police. He had parked his car in the clinic parking lot and photographed the building. He told police he was from Chicago, and a member of “Bound for Life.”

Ohio  06/13/07  Staff at a Planned Parenthood clinic received a call from a woman asking for information about the affiliate’s provision of contraceptives to minors. As the call progressed she stated that she was opposed to minors having confidential access to birth control and she had “caught” her 17-year-old daughter obtaining services at an affiliate site. The staff member urged her to talk to her daughter about her feelings, and she replied that she intended to talk to her lawyer instead. The affiliate has not heard from her again.

Texas  06/08/07  Priests for Life staged a large demonstration at a Planned Parenthood health center. More than 100 protesters said mass in front of the facility, which provides abortion care. There were no arrests and no incidents. This is a much larger group of picketers than normal at this location.