HotSpots (Security Briefings): February, 2007

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

Washington  02/28/07  Two pieces of hate mail were received at a Planned Parenthood office. 

Washington  02/27/07  Protesters at a Planned Parenthood health center attached an anti-choice sign to landscaping on the health center’s property.  The protesters removed the sign when asked.

Washington  02/27/07  Planned Parenthood posters and informational material posted outside a satellite location at the county social and health services department were torn down. 

Georgia  02/26/07  Alonzo Lee Richardson, convicted of making bomb threats to an independent abortion clinic in Savannah last June, was sentenced to 38 months in prison, $6,780 in restitution, and three years of supervised release.

Alabama  02/22/07  Dalton Ray Skinner was sentenced to five years probation for driving his vehicle into an abortion clinic here in January 2006.  He was also fined $6,100 and ordered to complete a substance abuse program. 

Pennsylvania  02/22/07  A staff member at a Planned Parenthood health center overheard a parking authority employee tell a protester that she would not issue a ticket for her expired meter because the violator was there to protest.  The staff member, who had recently gotten a ticket at the same meter, phoned the parking authority to complain.

Virginia  02/20/07  An anti-choice book was left at the front door of a Planned Parenthood health center. 

California  02/17/07  Joel Robison, 27, allegedly drove to a Planned Parenthood health center with a loaded gun and a stated intent to shoot the provider and left without incident upon seeing the security guard at the entrance.  Robison was arraigned on a charge of attempted murder and pleaded not guilty. 

Washington  02/15/07  A patient at a Planned Parenthood health center reported that protesters had crossed the street to harass her and her partner as they approached the health center. 

Florida  02/14/07 and 02/21/07  A group of protesters gathered outside a Planned Parenthood health center.  At one point the protesters parked their van in the health center driveway but moved it when asked. 

Michigan  2/14/07  A woman entered a Planned Parenthood health center and began distributing anti-choice literature.  She left when asked but then resumed her activity in the parking lot.  She was asked to leave the property completely and then went to another Planned Parenthood location and repeated her actions. 

New York  02/13/07  Protest activity at a Planned Parenthood health center continues.  On this day, a protester pushed an escort and then claimed the escort had pushed him. 

California  02/09/07  A Planned Parenthood staff member received anti-choice e-mail. 

New York  02/08/07  Two staff members of a Planned Parenthood affiliate were startled when a protester threw what he claimed was “holy water” on them. 

Washington  02/05/07  Two protesters at a Planned Parenthood health center were standing on private property, attempting to discourage patients from entering. 

Virginia  02/02/07  A man who threatened staff at a Planned Parenthood health center has been released from involuntary detention at a mental health facility.  He has not been charged in the incident, which involved writing the threat on a “free speech” wall. 

Washington  02/01/07  The glass front door of a Planned Parenthood health center was shattered when a rock was thrown at it. 

New York  01/29/07  The CEO of a Planned Parenthood affiliate received an anti-choice letter. 

James Kopp Trial:  Federal Judge Richard Arcara denied a request by James Kopp to interview two jurors from his trial, which ended in a conviction last month, January 2007, but granted an extension for filing a motion for anew trial.  May 4 is the new deadline for filing, with a hearing date set of May 17.