FOUNDED IN 1898 VOL. 110, NO. 25 DENVER, CO JUNE 19, 2009 © Dr. George Tiller’s political assassination is result of rabid anti- harassment Editor’s Note: Dr. Warren Hern deliv- brium, violence and hatred heaped upon How can you defend yourself against this? new generation: the individual or the ered the following address at Temple him by opponents of abortion. He was Dr. was assassinated in state?” Emanuel in Denver on June 11 at the generous in every way to his friends, 1993. Dr. John Britton was assassinated In this matter, the individual woman is invitation of Rabbi Steven Foster, Betty community and good causes. He was an in 1994. Dr. Bernard Slepian was assassi- more competent than any government. Serotta and the Religious Coalition for outstanding asset to our society, and he nated in 1998. To its eternal disgrace, the Republican Reproductive Choice. was a joy to those who knew him. He was Dr. Tiller is the fourth American abor- Party has exploited the abortion issue a man of peace. tion doctor to be assassinated by “pro- since 1974 to get power. It has been a eorge Tiller, my friend and medical But this is not just the personal life” anti-abortion fanatics, and at least conscious, deliberate, cynical choice of Gcolleague for over 30 years, is dead of tragedy of one abortion doctor, one honor- three other people have been murdered political strategy by this party, and its an assassin’s bullet. George was shot at able physician who took over his late for the same reasons. Others, such as leadership was captured long ago by the point-blank range with a handgun in the father’s family practice. This brutal, cold- nurse Emily Lyons, have been maimed for most radical elements in the religious foyer of his Lutheran Church in Wichita, blooded, premeditated political assassina- life. right. It is a mutual exploitation. The Kansas. He was tion is the inevitable Republican agenda is about money and acting as an and predictable result power. The radical religious right’s usher for the of over 35 years of he question is not, ‘When does life agenda is about power and money. congregation at rabid anti-abortion begin?’ but, ‘Who is best prepared to Working together, they gave us eight the time. The harassment, hate rhet- “T years of George W. Bush. church service oric, violence and make the decision to transmit life to a new In 1994, following the assassination of had started, his intimidation. generation: the individual or the state?’” Drs. Gunn and Britton and the attempted wife was in the I have some experi- assassination of Dr. Tiller in 1993, and choir, and ence with this subject. following the declaration of an Alabama WARREN M. HERN George was Within two weeks after starting to do Dr. Tiller’s assassination is the latest Catholic priest named David Trosch that GUEST COLUMNIST welcoming his at Colorado’s first freestanding, event in the historic pattern of anti-abor- killing doctors who do abortions is justifi- fellow nonprofit abortion clinic in Boulder in tion violence. This movement says to able homicide, I was being stalked by Ken worshipers to the service. 1973, I started getting obscene death those of us who help women: “Do what Scott, a local survivalist, marksman and The last time I was in that church threats in the middle of the night. I slept we tell you to do, or we will kill you.” And anti-abortion fanatic. I went to the with George was at his daughter’s with a rifle by my bed at my house in the they do. Department of Justice and asked for help. wedding. mountains, and I expected someone to try We don’t have to invade other coun- In a report that I prepared in the fall of The assassination of George Tiller in to kill me. tries to find terrorists. They are right 1994 for the Civil Rights division of the his place of worship is horrifying, despi- In 1982, Dr. Hector Zevallos and his here, killing abortion doctors. U.S. Department of Justice, which is cable and tragic for his family, friends and wife were taken captive by the “Army of What does Dr. Tiller’s assassination dated January 6, 1995, I stated: colleagues. He was a dedicated, conscien- God” in Granite City, Illinois, because of mean? Why was he chosen by the assassin The classic problem of democracy is tious and courageous physician who had Dr. Zevallos’ work in performing abor- for death in the church on a quiet Sunday that it grants great liberty to those who endured one assassination attempt in tions. morning in Wichita? hate freedom. 1993 — when he was shot in both arms After two dozen clinic bombings in What did Dr. Tiller represent to the The anti-abortion movement, and espe- — and endless harassment at his home, 1984, FBI Director William Webster said anti-abortion fanatic who killed him? cially its appropriation of legitimate reli- office and church. Kansas authorities that the incidents weren’t terrorism He represented freedom. He repre- gious expression for sinister and basically used the coercive power of the state to because “we don’t know who’s doing it.” sented individual dignity. He represented seditious terrorist purposes, is testing our hound and persecute Dr. Tiller with a Since those times, the anti-abortion opportunity for women to become full commitment to free speech to the limits. In variety of unconstitutional and specious rhetoric has been filled with descriptions citizens and participants in our society. fact, the use of free speech and freedom of charges. of doctors as “baby killers,” “mass He represented social change. He repre- religion by anti-abortion demagogues is For those of us who knew him, a man murderers” and “child killers.” The anti- sented the value of the individual adult dangerous to the lives and liberty of many who served his country as human being as opposed to state peaceful U.S. citizens. a Navy flight surgeon, who control of individual lives. He repre- There is no deterrence at present for provided medical care for sented a thought. The man who killed anti-abortion demonstrators, since they do tens of thousands of Dr. Tiller tried to kill a thought. not respect either civil or criminal laws or women and their families The idea that an embryo or fetus is basic assumptions of Western culture. and who loved his family, equal to, or more important than, the Two weeks after I submitted my this loss is incomprehen- life of a cantankerous adult doctor is report, the “American Coalition of Life sible. Those of us who no longer a sick private delusion. It is [sic] Activists” held a press conference in were his friends and a collective psychosis masquerading as Virginia, home of the Moral Majority, on colleagues will miss his religion that has become a political January 22, 1995, and announced its hit easy good humor, unfailing force threatening democratic society. list of the first 13 doctors they wanted generosity and gracious- Dr. Tiller’s crime was not that he eliminated. I was on the list, and so was ness, and willingness to killed children — which he did not — George Tiller. share and exchange the but that he brought liberty and health The Mafia has the decency to keep its kind of clinical informa- to women. He saved their lives and hit lists private. tion that doctors cherish. futures. That’s why every doctor in George was assassinated last week. I George took over his America who does abortions lives am now, once again, under the 24-hour father’s family practice in under a death threat. protection of heavily armed U.S. Wichita when his parents, As I said in 1993, after the assassi- marshals. They risk their lives for me. Dr. George Tiller sister and brother-in-law nation of Dr. Gunn, we can only hope The U.S. Attorney General made that were killed in a plane crash in 1970. He abortion fanatics call themselves “pro- that Dr. Tiller’s tragic and senseless happen. had planned to close his father’s practice life” while they are killing doctors and will wake up the American people Why is it necessary for an American and continue his plans for a residency in other health workers who help women. to the radical Christian right’s determina- doctor who helps women to be protected dermatology. This despicable phrase implies that those tion to take absolute power in our society from assassins? He soon found that women had come of us who save women’s lives are “pro- and to control its vital institutions. What does this mean for American to his father for help to have safe abor- death” and “anti-life.” “Pro-life” is not a The main difference between the society? What does it mean for freedom in tions — illegal at that time. Women neutral, descriptive term. It is a dagger of American anti-abortion movement and the United States? appealed to George to continue his psychological warfare that is backed by the Taliban is about 8,000 miles. Also, the When the anti-abortion fanatics finish father’s compassion and service. At first, hate and terror. It is a profound libel and Taliban wants a fascist Islamic theocracy, killing off all the abortion doctors, who’s he refused — and one woman died from a insult to those who help women. Words whereas the American anti-abortion next? People who read newspapers? badly done abortion. George changed his kill, and the phrase “pro-life” is an movement wants a fascist Christian People who write for newspapers? People mind. He became not only a skilled family obscene and grotesque sophistry. It is a theocracy. who read books? Federal judges? Homo- practitioner, he became highly skilled in cruel and vicious fraud. The main difference between the sexuals? Women who don’t wear veils? difficult late abortion procedures. His TV host Bill O’Reilly, who American anti-abortion movement and Members of Congress? People who preach patients came from around the world calls himself “pro-life,” made an obsession the Salem Witch Hunts is 300 years. from the wrong part of the Bible? with tragically complicated pregnancies of obscenely referring to Dr. Tiller as Last week, we observed the 65th The American anti-abortion movement for his help. “George Tiller, the baby killer.” He anniversary of the Normandy Invasion. is opposed to the rule of law, a secular In the highly specialized world of late repeated this epithet dozens of times. He The difference between those of us who society, the American Constitution, repre- abortion for women with desperate needs, demonized and vilified Dr. Tiller on the help women by performing abortions and sentative government, personal freedom, George and I were each other’s only public airwaves. This is called “target the guys who hit the beach in 1944 is that democracy and thought. peers. We talked a lot and often about our identification.” This is electronic fascism. we get to choose and we have a better The spirit of true freedom, the security patients, families and political struggles. It is only one of many examples, others chance of surviving. It’s the same issue, of its citizens, the peace of civil society We skied together in the Colorado supplied by Dr. James Dobson, the former the same adversary, the same clash of and the soul of America is at stake here. Rockies. We both had trouble staying on head of Focus on the Family located in values, the same struggle, but different Dr. Tiller’s assassination is the latest the trail. Somehow, we both had a Colorado Springs. In August, 1993, weapons. blow to that freedom. tendency to resist supervision. , head of Operation Rescue, All of these historical convulsions are Wake up, America. George Tiller was kind, gentle, consid- went on National Christian Radio Broad- about power. erate and compassionate. He was funny. cast Network and, referring to me by The question is not, “When does life Warren M. Hern, a physician, He was devoted to his family and friends. name and citing Scripture passages, begin?” but, “Who is best prepared to is director of the Boulder He was not vengeful in spite of the oppro- invited his listeners to assassinate me. make the decision to transmit life to a Abortion Clinic.