* Reprinted by permission from The Colorado Statesman,June 19, 2009 HERN: MY FRIEND IS GONE ADVERTISEMENT*Reprinted by permission from The Colorado Statesman,June 19, 2009 Dr.George Tiller’spolitical assassination is result of rabid anti- harassment Dr.Warren Hern delivered the fol- causes. He was an outstanding asset Dr.Tiller is the fourth American pared to make the decision to trans- lowing address at Temple Emanuel to our society,and he was ajoy to abortion doctor to be assassinated mit life to anew generation: the in- in Denver on June 11 at the invita- those who knew him. He was aman by “pro-life” anti-abortion fanatics, dividual or the state?” tion of Rabbi Steven Foster,Betty of peace. and at least three other people have In this matter, the individual Serotta and the Religious Coalition But this is not just the personal been murdered for the same rea- woman is more competent than any for Reproductive Choice. tragedy of one abortion doctor,one sons. Others, such as nurse Emily government. honorable physician who took over Lyons, have been maimed for life. To its eternal disgrace, the Re- eorge Tiller,my friend and med- his late father’s family practice. Dr.Tiller’s assassination is the publican Party has exploited the Gical colleague for over 30 years, This brutal, cold-blooded, premedi- latest event in the historic pattern abortion issue since 1974 to get is dead of an assassin’s bullet. tated political assassination is the of anti-abortion violence. This power.Ithas been aconscious, de- George was shot at point-blank inevitable and predictable result of movement says to those of us who liberate, cynical choice of political range with ahandgun in thefoyer over 35 years of strategy by this party, and its lead- of his rabid anti-abor- ership was captured long ago by the Lutheran tion harassment, he question is not, ‘When does life most radical elements in the reli- Church in Wi- hate rhetoric, vi- “Tbegin?’ but, ‘Who is best prepared to gious right. It is amutual exploita- chita, Kansas. olence and in- make the decision to transmit life to anew tion. The Republican agenda is He was acting timidation. about money and power.The radical as an usher for I have some generation: the individual or the state?’” religious right’s agenda is about the congrega- experience with power and money.Working together, WARREN M. HERN tion at the this subject. help women: “Do what we tell you they gave us eight years of George GUEST COLUMNIST time. The Within two weeks after starting to do, or we will kill you.” And they W. Bush. church service to do at Colorado’s first do. In 1994, following the assassina- had started, his wife was in the freestanding, nonprofit abortion We don’t have to invade other tion of Drs. Gunn and Britton and choir,and George was welcoming clinic in Boulder in 1973, Istarted countries to find terrorists. They the attempted assassination of Dr. his fellow worshipers to the service. getting obscene death threats in the are right here, killing abortion doc- Tiller in 1993, and following the The last time Iwas in that church middle of the night. I slept with a tors. declaration of an Alabama Catholic with George was at his daughter’s rifle by my bed at my house in the What does Dr.Tiller’s assassina- priest named David Trosch that wedding. mountains, and Iexpected someone tion mean? Why was he chosen by killing doctors who do abortions is The assassination of George to try to kill me. the assassin for death in the church justifiable homicide, Iwas being Tiller in his place of worship is hor- In 1982, Dr.Hector Zevallos and on aquiet Sunday morning in Wi- stalked by KenScott, alocal sur- rifying, despicable and tragic for his his wife were taken captive by the chita? vivalist, marksman and anti-abor- family,friends and colleagues. He “A rmy of God” in Granite City,Illi- What did Dr. Tiller represent to tion fanatic. Iwent to the was adedicated, conscientious and nois, because of Dr.Zevallos’ work the anti-abortion fanatic who killed Department of Justice and asked for courageous physician who had en- in performing abortions. him? help. In areport that Iprepared in dured one assassination attempt in After two dozen clinic bombings He represented freedom. He rep- the fall of 1994 for the Civil Rights 1993 — when he was shot in both in 1984, FBI Director William Web- resented individual dignity.Herep- division of the U.S. Department of arms — and endless harassment at ster said that the incidents weren’t resented opportunity for women to Justice, which is dated January 6, his home, office and church. Kansas terrorism because “we don’t know become full citizens and partici- 1995, I stated: authorities used the coercive power who’s doing it.” pants in our society. He represented The classic problem of democracy of the state to hound and persecute Since those times, the anti-abor- social change. He represented the is that it grants great liberty to those Dr.Tiller with avariety of tion rhetoric has been filled with de- value of the individual adult human who hate freedom. unconstitutional and specious scriptions of doctors as “baby being as opposed to state control of The anti-abortion movement, and charges. killers,” “mass murderers” and individual lives. He represented a especially its appropriation of legiti- Forthose of us who knew him, a “child killers.” The anti-abortion fa- thought. The man who killed Dr. mate religious expression for sinister man who served his country as a natics call themselves “pro-life” Tiller tried to kill athought. and basically seditious terrorist pur- Navy flight surgeon, who provided while they are killing doctors and The idea that an embryo or fetus poses, is testing our commitment to medical care for tens of thousands other health workers who help is equal to, or more important than, free speech to the limits. In fact, the of women and their the life of acantan- use of free speech and freedom of re- families and who kerous adult doctor ligion by anti-abortion demagogues loved his family,this is no longer asick is dangerous to the lives and liberty loss is incomprehensi- private delusion. It of many peaceful U.S. citizens. ble. Those of us who is acollective psy- There is no deterrence at present were his friends and chosis masquerad- for anti-abortion demonstrators, colleagues will miss ing as religion that since they do not respect either civil his easy good humor, has become apoliti- or criminal laws or basic assump- unfailing generosity cal force threaten- tions of Western culture. and graciousness, and ing democratic Two weeks after I submitted my willingness to share society. report, the “A merican Coalition of and exchange the Dr.Tiller’s crime Life [sic] Activists” held apress con- kind of clinical infor- was not that he ference in Virginia, home of the mation that doctors killed children — Moral Majority,onJanuary 22, cherish. which he did not — 1995, and announced its hit list of George took over but that he brought the first 13 doctors they wanted his father’s family liberty and health eliminated. Iwas on the list, and so practice in Wichita to women. He saved was George Tiller. when his parents, sis- their lives and fu- The Mafia has the decency to ter and brother-in-law tures. That’s why keep its hit lists private. Dr.George Tiller were killed in aplane every doctor in Amer- George was assassinated last crash in 1970. He had plannedto women. This despicable phrase im- ica who does abortions lives under a week. Iamnow,once again, under close his father’s practice and con- plies that those of us who save death threat. the 24-hour protection of heavily tinue his plans for aresidency in women’s lives are “pro-death” and As I said in 1993, after the assas- armed U.S. marshals. They risk dermatology. “anti-life.” “Pro-life” is not aneu- sination of Dr.Gunn, we can only their lives for me. The U.S. Attorney He soon found that women had tral, descriptive term. It is adagger hope that Dr.Tiller’s tragic and General made that happen. come to his father for help to have of psychological warfare that is senseless will wake up the Why is it necessary for an Ameri- safe abortions —illegal at that time. backed by hate and terror.Itisa American people to the radical can doctor who helps women to be Women appealed to George to con- profound libel and insult to those Christian right’s determination to protected from assassins? tinue his father’s compassion and who help women. Words kill, and take absolute power in our What does this mean for Ameri- service. At first, he refused — and the phrase “pro-life” is an obscene society and to control its vital insti- can society? What does it mean for one woman died from abadly done and grotesque sophistry. It is a cruel tutions. freedom in the United States? abortion. George changed his mind. and vicious fraud. The main difference between the When the anti-abortion fanatics He became not only askilled family FoxNews TV host Bill O’Reilly, American anti-abortion movement finish killing off all the abortion practitioner,hebecame highly who calls himself “pro-life,” made and the Taliban is about 8,000 doctors, who’s next? People who skilled in difficult late abortion pro- an obsession of obscenely referring miles. Also, the Taliban wants a read newspapers? People who write cedures. His patients came from to Dr.Tiller as “George Tiller,the fascist Islamic theocracy,whereas for newspapers? People who read around the world with tragically baby killer.” He repeated this epi- the American anti-abortion move- books? Federal judges? Homosexu- complicated pregnancies for his thet dozens of times. He demonized ment wants a fascist Christian als? Women who don’t wear veils? help. and vilified Dr.Tiller on the public theocracy. Members of Congress? People who In the highly specialized world of airwaves. This is called “target iden- The main difference between the preach from the wrong part of the late abortion for women with des- tification.” This is electronic fas- American anti-abortion movement Bible? perate needs, George and Iwere cism. and the Salem Witch Hunts is 300 The American anti-abortion each other’s only peers. We talked a It is only one of many examples, years. movement is opposed to the rule of lot and often about our patients, others supplied by Dr.James Dob- Last week, we observed the 65th law,asecular society,the American families and political struggles. We son, the former head of Focus on the anniversary of the Normandy Inva- Constitution, representative govern- skied together in the Colorado Rock- Family located in Colorado Springs. sion. The difference between those ment, personal freedom, democracy ies. We both had trouble staying on In August, 1993, , of us who help women by perform- and thought. the trail. Somehow,weboth had a head of Operation Rescue, went on ing abortions and the guys who hit The spirit of true freedom, the se- tendency to resist supervision. National Christian Radio Broadcast the beach in 1944 is that we get to curity of its citizens, the peace of George Tiller was kind, gentle, Network and, referring to me by choose and we have abetter chance civil society and the soul of America considerate and compassionate. He name and citing Scripture passages, of surviving. It’s the same issue, the is at stake here. Dr.Tiller’s assassi- was funny.Hewas devoted to his invited his listeners to assassinate same adversary, the same clash of nation is the latest blow to that family and friends. He was not me. How can you defend yourself values, the same struggle, but dif- freedom. vengeful in spite of the opprobrium, against this? ferent weapons. Wake up, America. violence and hatred heaped upon Dr. was assassinated All of these historical convulsions him by opponents of abortion. He in 1993. Dr.John Britton was assas- are about power. Warren M. Hern, aphysician, was generous in every way to his sinated in 1994. Dr.Bernard Slepian The question is not, “When does is director of the Boulder friends, community and good was assassinated in 1998. life begin?” but, “Who is best pre- Abortion Clinic.

THIS ADVERTISEMENT PAID FOR BY WARREN M. HERN, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., DIRECTOR, BOULDER ABORTION CLINIC 6234401