Fight Vowed to End Anti-Abortion Violence : Head of Planned Parenthood Group Decries ‘Terrorist’ Acts at Clinics

The national president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America denounced escalating violence against abortion clinics Thursday and vowed that the organization would not be intimidated by threats and picketing from anti-abortion groups.

Faye Wattleton, in Santa Ana to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Planned Parenthood clinics in Orange County, called recent firebombings and arson attempts against clinics in Santa Ana and nationwide “terrorist activities” committed by a “fringe element” of anti-abortionists unable to achieve their goal through legal means.

“As you enter the clinic door here you see the tangible evidence of the work of those people who have set upon a campaign of terrorism in the name of God and in the name of the preservation of life,” Wattleton said during a press conference at the Planned Parenthood clinic in Santa Ana.

The clinic was firebombed a few days before Christmas, but the damage was limited to a blackened exterior wall that cost less than $500 to repair.

“These terrorist acts are the culmination of 12 years of frustration for the anti-abortion forces,” Wattleton said. “We will not be intimidated by the actions of terrorists.”

Wattleton said the firebombings and burnings that have occurred at clinics across the country in recent months were “the acts of people who are desperately frustrated and perceive themselves in a loser position.”

In 1984, according to Planned Parenthood statistics, there were 35 incidents of bombings, bomb threats, arson and attempted arson at Planned Parenthood clinics across the country. Local clinics were warned by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms of a possible increase in violence last December and again last Tuesday on the 12th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion.

“The anti-abortion movement has not been able to make gains in spite of the fact that they have an advocate who has been in the White House for four years,” Wattleton said. “They’ve been unsuccessful because Americans don’t support the position of the President, (and) Americans don’t support the very narrow position of the anti-abortion movement.

“We do not expect (anti-abortion groups) to make any more progress in 1985 than they made from 1980 to 1984,” she said.

Wattleton briefly outlined the organization’s plans to help “end violent attacks against family planning and abortion clinics” by calling on politicians, clergy and the American public to “raise their voices in protest against such terrorism.”

Wattleton was confronted Thursday evening by a group of eight anti-abortion protesters who shouted “Don’t kill babies!” as Wattleton entered the Newport Harbor Yacht Club, where she had a speaking engagement.

About 30 protesters had gathered at the club earlier in the evening, but most had dispersed by the time Wattleton arrived at the Newport Beach club.

Wattleton said earlier that the regular presence of protesters at women’s clinics has led many of the clinics to take measures to protect clients, such as employing armed security guards. Other clinics, such as the Feminist Women’s Health Center in Santa Ana, use volunteer escorts to assist women from their cars to the clinic.

“We try to assure people who come to the Planned Parenthood Clinics that every effort will be made to preserve their safety and their security,” Wattleton said.

A number of employees nationwide have brought charges against picketers, Wattleton said, and Planned Parenthood is taking other measures to attempt to end the violence.

“We stop them by working with law enforcement officials to identify them before they commit these acts and to make it clear that they will be treated harshly . . . but the ultimate discouragement for these kinds of actions will be the American people,” she said. “Will we be a society that tolerates lawlessness from those people who disagree with the broader constitutional rights of other people? I think that’s inconsistent with a democratic, free and law-abiding society.”

Wattleton became national president of the Planned Parenthhood Assn. in 1978. She is the first woman, the first black and the youngest person ever to head the voluntary family planning agency.