HotSpots for March 1-31, 2006

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.

Pennsylvania 03/31/06 A Planned Parenthood health center was vandalized with paint balls.

Illinois 03/28/06 An inebriated man entered a Planned Parenthood health center's vestibule and threatened to bomb the clinic. On the same day, a man returned for the second time to the area in front of a different health center, sitting in his car and masturbating as clients waited for the health center to open, shouting obscenities at them and taking their pictures. Shortly after he left another man pulled up in a car and shouted at the women not to kill their babies. Law enforcement were notified by clinic staff.

Massachusetts 03/28/06 Neighbors of a Planned Parenthood clinician received a letter urging them to ask her to stop working at Planned Parenthood, and containing an anti-choice brochure and cartoons. The employee reported the letters to the police.

Texas 03/27/06 A Planned Parenthood site was vandalized by a paintball attack, probably Friday night or early Saturday morning. Paint was splattered on the sign and building.

Virginia 03/24/06 A Planned Parenthood staff member answered a phone call at a health center which was a recording of a baby crying. It continued for a while and then the call disconnected.

Montana 03/22/06 Numerous individuals have reported to Planned Parenthood receiving an opinion survey call that appears to be on abortion rights. However, when asked to press a number on the keypad in response to a question, choosing the "pro-choice" response causes the call to disconnect. A smaller number of these same calls have been reported in Indiana.

Maryland 03/22/06 A Planned Parenthood site reported an attempted break-in at their clinical/administrative site. A pane of glass was broken, but the building was not entered.

Buffalo, NY 03/21/06 James Kopp, confessed murderer of Dr. Barnett Slepian, has asked to represent himself in his trial on federal charges connected with the slaying. A hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Richard Arcara has been scheduled for April 26 to rule on this matter.

Washington 03/17/06 A caller upset by Planned Parenthood advertising on "his" country music station left three rambling, angry voice mail messages for affiliate staff. Law enforcement was notified.

Indiana 03/11/06 Staff at a Planned Parenthood health center received two harassing anti-abortion phone calls. The calls came the same day the local paper ran a story regarding the South Dakota abortion ban legislation.

New York 03/10/06 Police responded quickly to a staff call from a Planned Parenthood site when a protester repeatedly trespassed on their private property. They warned the protester and provided staff with an incident report number to use if she trespassed again.

Indiana 03/08/06 An older man who protests sporadically at a Planned Parenthood health center left his usual spot on the public sidewalk and approached the waiting room window. Police were called but the protester had left by the time they arrived.

Nebraska 03/07/06 A vandal removed and destroyed the "Private Property/No Trespassing Sign" at a Planned Parenthood health center. Law enforcement was notified.

Washington 03/01/06 Two security cameras were stolen from a Planned Parenthood health center.

Texas 03/01/06 Gunfire from a nearby highway overpass resulted in a broken window at a Planned Parenthood health center. Two bullets were found lodged in the building.

Missouri 02/07/06 Vandals broke the front window of a Planned Parenthood health center with what appeared to be a BB gun. Law enforcement was notified.

Iowa (seven incidents in February): Anti-choice extremists have been videotaping at Planned Parenthood health centers, setting up a tripod with a camera directed at the front doors of the clinics. When approached by security guards or law enforcement, one of them became verbally abusive and threatening.

Published: 03.31.06 | Updated: 03.31.06



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