THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 5, 1995 TAG: 9501050432
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE WATSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Virginia has been deluged with calls of support and offers to volunteer since Saturday's shooting at the Hillcrest abortion clinic in Norfolk.
``People are coming out of the woodwork, dropping off donations,'' said Cindy Verhoven, spokeswoman for the Hampton-based office. ``They want to volunteer. They're saying, `Let me know if there's any way I can help out.'
``I think people have got all this anger inside (following the shooting) and they need to do something with that anger.''
John C. Salvi III was arrested Saturday and charged with firing 23 rounds of ammunition into the Bel Aire building, which houses the Hillcrest abortion clinic.
None of the local Planned Parenthood branches offers abortion services.
They provide pregnancy counseling and birth control services.
Verhoven says Planned Parenthood has received 40 to 50 calls from people wanting to volunteer for legislative activities or express their concern over the recent violence at Hillcrest.
``We didn't get this kind of reaction following Paul Hill,'' Verhoven said, referring to the man convicted of murdering a Florida doctor and his escort outside an abortion clinic.
``This is because it's hitting so close to home now and people are concerned about our safety. . . . These murders have stimulated concern, and people want to ensure that a woman's right to choose remains safe and legal.''
KEYWORDS: CLINIC SHOOTING AFTERMATH ABORTION by CNB