The Virginian-Pilot
                            THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, January 4, 1995             TAG: 9501040393
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A10  EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY DENISE WATSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK                            LENGTH: Medium:   98 lines

CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: ***************************************************************** An abortion clinic protester was misquoted in a caption Wednesday. The protester, who identified herself as ``Joan of Hampton Roads,'' said, ``If the church stood up for the babies, the violence of abortion would end.'' Correction published Thursday, January 5, 1995 on page A2. ***************************************************************** FOR BOTH SIDES, SHOOTINGS PROVE A FLASH POINT

Stephanie Stilts just wanted to run into General District Court Tuesday to pay her $68 traffic ticket and leave. Instead, she ran into a New York Times reporter, a makeshift anti-abortion poster and a camera crew from a Boston television station.

But it was the line of men and women, holding signs reading, ``Keep Abortion Safe and Legal'' and ``Who's the real victim? Shannon Lowney, 1969-1994'' that made Stilts pause and think about something she hadn't in a long time.

``I guess I had become pretty complacent about the whole issue. I forgot about the struggle to make abortion a legal option,'' Stilts said, watching the pro-choice activists blow into their gloved hands and stomp their numb feet to keep warm.

``It doesn't seem the fight is over.''

Instead of scaring people away from supporting abortion rights - as many anti-abortion activists had hoped - the recent violence has only galvanized pro-choice supporters.

At least 20 advocates - many members from the Tidewater Chapter of the National Organization for Women - held a vigil Tuesday morning outside Norfolk General District Court, where 22-year-old John C. Salvi III was arraigned on a charge of firing at least 23 rounds of ammunition Saturday at the building that houses the Hillcrest Clinic.

Salvi also faces federal and state charges stemming from two assaults Friday on abortion clinics in Brookline, Mass., where two female employees were killed.

``I think women have been waiting for a catalyst,'' said Connie Hannah, Tidewater NOW vice president. ``I think this is it.''

One Chesapeake woman hurriedly pushed a baby stroller into the courtyard around 8:30 a.m., her son bundled in a thick coat and Barney cap. She joined the growing line of pro-choice supporters, picking up a grainy black and white poster that featured the smiling face of Lowney, one of the Massachusetts women who was killed.

The Chesapeake woman said she didn't want her name used, but she wanted her presence felt.

``I'm concerned about the terrorism that's going on in our country now,'' she said. ``This insanity.''

Susanne Britt of Portsmouth said pro-choice advocates have been lax in recent years in showing their support, something she hopes will now change.

``Hopefully, we will have a presence when we can. We want the general public to know that we are willing to come out like this.''

About 30 feet away, three anti-abortion protesters held signs calling for the media and churches to do more to end abortion.

``If the church stood up for the babies, the violence and abortion would end,'' said a woman who identified herself as ``Joan of Hampton Roads.''

A fellow protester said Salvi did the right thing, and when asked whether killing abortion providers is the way to end abortion, replied, ``whatever happens, happens.''

Several of the pro-choice demonstrators admitted that taking a more visible stance might put them in the line of fire, but they said the time has come to take a risk.

``We were sitting ducks the other night when we held a vigil in front of Hillcrest Clinic. A car came so close to me, the draft almost knocked me over,'' said Britt, using her thumb and forefinger to measure the 2-inch distance between herself and the car.

``You have to be careful with people like this running around, but we've got to show our support.''

Robin Love, another NOW member, said, ``We know our silence will not protect us.'' ILLUSTRATION: The Demonstrators

BETH BERGMAN

Staff

Chris Cruze, right, takes a deep breath as she and Lisa Petry, left,

demonstrate outside court on Tuesday. Both are members of the

Tidewater Chapter of the National Organization for Women.

BILL TIERNAN

Staff

``If the church stood up for the babies, the violence and abortion

would end,'' said a woman who identified herself as ``Joan of

Hampton Roads.'' She was protesting outside court on Tuesday.

KEYWORDS: CLINIC SHOOTINGS AFTERMATH PROTEST DEMONSTRATION

ANTI-ABORTION PRO-CHOICE ABORTION by CNB