Before the first murder of an abortion doctor, in
1993, the idea of activists appearing on national television to defend such
crimes was unimaginable. Six more murders later, however, extremists can be
seen on news and talk shows, wearing suits and ties, explaining that
assassination is a credible political tactic— at least where abortion is
concerned.
The following activists have aggressively promoted
pro-violence views— using the Internet, in their own newsletters, and in the
mainstream media. They are unquestionably exercising their First Amendment
rights to free speech, but does their inflammatory rhetoric also incite those
responsible for the murder and maiming of abortion clinic workers?
Michael Bray
Bowie, Maryland
Editor, Capital Area News; Lutheran
Reformation pastor
Spent 46 months in prison in the 1980s for abortion
clinic bombings. Wrote A Time to Kill, which advocates the murder of
abortion doctors. Organizes annual banquet to honor activists who commit
antiabortion crimes. Profiled in USA Today and The Washington Post. Touted
Army of God manual on ABC’s Nightline after the Birmingham bombing in
January.
Neal Horsley
Carrollton, Georgia
Computer programmer
Hosts Web site containing the Nuremberg Files, which
includes abortion doctors’ home addresses and photographs. Advises other
antiabortion extremists on setting up Web sites. Founder of the Creator’s
Rights Party. Defended the Nuremberg Files on CNN and CNBC after slaying of New
York doctor Barnett Slepian last month.
C. Roy McMillan
Jackson, Mississippi
Executive director, Christian Action Group; an
American Coalition of Life Activists (ACLA) leader
Married to obstetrician who once performed abortions.
Longtime friend of Paul Hill. Advocated sniper shootings of abortion doctors in
The New York Times in 1994, nine days before first sniper attack in
Canada. Told Time in 1995: “It wouldn’t bother me if every abortionist
in the country today fell dead from a bullet.”
David Leach
Des Moines, Iowa
Publisher, Prayer & Action News; music
store owner
Fired from job as journalist at suburban newspaper
after publishing Army of God manual in Prayer & Action News. Printed
cartoons and stories by Shelley Shannon, who is in prison for the attempted
murder of an abortion doctor. Published a fictional tale about Army of God
members bombing Florida clinics shortly before Florida clinics were hit by
butyric acid in May.
Donald Spitz
Norfolk, Virginia
Director, Pro-Life Virginia
Publicly praised John Salvi after he killed two
clinic workers in 1994. Frequents Internet bulletin boards and posts messages
like: “Praise the Lord Jesus, the Army of God strikes again!” Called sniper who
killed Slepian a “hero” on ABC’s World News Tonight.
Father David Trosch
Mobile, Alabama
Catholic priest; president of Life Enterprises
Unlimited
Suspended from parish in 1993 after trying
unsuccessfully to publish a newspaper ad urging that abortion doctors be
killed. Promoted views on Geraldo, CNN, and NBC’s Today Show. Publishes
Web site featuring gory fetus photos and a cartoon of a scale that balances the
number of clinic workers killed against the number of “aborted human beings.”
Donald Treshman
Baltimore, Maryland
Founder of Rescue America; an ACLA leader
Arrested more than 100 times for antiabortion
activities. Solicited donations for Michael Griffin after Griffin committed the
first murder of an abortion doctor, David Gunn, in 1993. Praised first sniper
shooting of doctor on Canadian radio in 1994, several days after attack.
Paul Hill
Starke, Florida
Inmate, Florida State Prison
Applauded the 1993 murder of David Gunn on Donahue
and ABC’s Nightline. Killed abortion doctor and his volunteer escort in 1994.
Severely injured another escort. Wrote “Why I Shot an Abortionist,” an essay
that is now on an antiabortion Web site. Awaiting execution on death row.
Andrew Burnett
Portland, Oregon
Publisher, Life Advocate magazine; cofounder,
Advocate for Life Ministries; cofounder, ACLA
Arrested more than 50 times for antiabortion
activities. Published Bray’s A Time to Kill. Stated on ABC’s World
News Tonight in 1995: “I think anyone who wanted to do violence can simply
open a telephone book to the abortion section in any major city and find many
abortionists listed.”
Research: Jennifer Del Medico
photo credits: BRAY: H. DARR BEISER/USA TODAY;
MCMILLAN, SPITZ: AP/WIDE WORLD; TRESHMAN: PATRICK SANDOR/BALTIMORE SUN
One of four articles in our The
Terrorist Campaign Against Abortion feature.
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