HotSpots (Security Briefings): December, 2006

California  12/28/06  Protesters entered the waiting room of a Planned Parenthood health center and attempted to give a wrapped gift to a patient.  Police arrived after the protesters had left, but reported that the same individuals had tried something similar at another provider.

Virginia  12/27/06  An alert police officer noticed a man writing an explicit, violent threat on a public message board against employees at a Planned Parenthood health center.  The message stated the man was “entertaining serious thoughts” of killing the security guards and the provider with an assault rifle he claimed to have.  The man, who has a history of mental illness, is in protective custody.

California  12/22/06  Anti-choice protesters attempted to enter a Planned Parenthood health center to deliver “gift baskets” to the staff.  Staff denied them access so they left the baskets outside the door.

Connecticut  12/21/06  Planned Parenthood staff found an 18-inch statue of the Virgin Mary at the side of their building.  The statue was holding a plastic doll covered with ketchup, and a note was attached that said, “You could have aborted the baby Jesus.”  Police removed the statue before patients arrived.

Indiana  12/20/06  Staff found a photocopied $10 bill with an anti-choice message on it in front of a Planned Parenthood health center.

California  12/19/06  Around 30-to-35 members of the anti-choice group “the Survivors” entered the waiting room of a non-Planned Parenthood abortion provider, singing Christmas carols, distributing baby items and anti-choice literature, harassing patients, and refusing to leave when asked.  They stayed about 15 minutes, and police did not arrive until after the group had already left. 

Pennsylvania  12/12/06  Clayton Waagner, already serving a federal prison sentence for sending hundreds of anthrax threat letters to health centers was sentenced to 33 years and four months for consolidated carjacking, robbery, and weapons offenses in four states.  Waagner is currently incarcerated at the Lewisburg, PA, federal penitentiary.

Illinois  12/11/06  A letter was received by a Planned Parenthood location with a return address of “Planned Infanticide.”  An anti-choice message was written on the outside of the envelope, and there was nothing inside.

New York  12/06/06  Staff at a Planned Parenthood health center received a call from a man who would not identify himself, requesting statistical information regarding the number of abortions done, and disposition of the fetal tissue.  Staff referred him to the New York Department of Health.

Pennsylvania  12/06/06  Protesters distributed anti-EC (emergency contraception) literature to patients at a Planned Parenthood health center.  Police were called and told protesters they were not allowed in the building and could not block the entrance to the health center.

Pennsylvania  12/06/06  A protester posed as a patient to receive free EC.  Police were called and she was removed from the building.

Kansas  12/06/06  The regular mail carrier at a Planned Parenthood location told staff he thought EC was “evil,” and left without taking the outgoing mail.  The affiliate has asked the Postal Service to investigate.