THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 30, 1994 TAG: 9407300235
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MATTHEW BOWERS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
Friday's news of the latest anti-abortion killings shocked and saddened workers at the Hillcrest Clinic in Norfolk, South Hampton Roads' only abortion clinic and itself the site of violent protests in recent years.
``Certainly, I think the general reaction was concern for the loved ones of the people killed and the one who was injured,'' spokeswoman Suzette Caton said. ``And, again, I think there was shock that a person would shoot another person . . .
``We hope that the general public will take notice that we're providing a legal medical service here. And that people providing that service around the country are being murdered.''
On the other side of the issue, David Crane, state director for Operation Rescue, one of the country's most active anti-abortion groups, whispered ``goodness gracious'' when he heard the accused's name. He had heard and read that Hill had said any action justifiable in defending those already born would be justifiable in defending the unborn.
``I knew that Paul Hill had taken a very bold stand,'' Crane said.
Crane shared a Florida newspaper clipping about the death in late June of a 30-year-old woman who underwent an abortion in another Pensacola clinic. The Pensacola News Journal quoted Hill as saying he protests abortion out of concern for not just the unborn children, but the pregnant women as well.
``Certainly this is cause for me to redouble my efforts for both their benefits,'' Hill told the newspaper.
Crane said he couldn't speculate on what effect the shootings might have on the anti-abortion movement.
``As an organization we limit ourselves to peaceful intervention in defense of the preborn,'' Crane said in a written statement. ``We never have and never will go beyond nonviolent sit-ins and freedom-of-speech activities to protect the innocent.
``It is a tragedy that our nation has legalized an atrocity such as abortion . . . and thus solicited such extreme responses to defend the children our government has abandoned.''
But Tania Blagrove, executive director of the Virginia affiliate of the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, blamed the abortion protesters.
``All anti-choice activists should acknowledge that their rhetoric creates the atmosphere that leads to these brutal crimes,'' Blagrove said in a written statement. ``Opponents of choice who call physicians `baby-killers' one day have no credibility the next when they issue polite statements of regret for the medical workers and their families.''
News of the shootings hit hard others involved in the abortion issue.
``I'm devastated by it,'' said Gail Harlan, a community-education coordinator and trainer for Planned Parenthood. ``Just unbelievable.''
Mary Petchel, president of the Tidewater chapter of the Virginia Society for Human Life, answered her phone in a subdued voice shortly after hearing the news on the radio.
``We just condemn all kinds of killing,'' she said quietly.
KEYWORDS: ABORTION SHOOTING MURDER ARREST by CNB