In Firebombing Aftermath : All-Night Vigils Begin at Birth Control Clinic

In an effort to ward off further arson attacks to area birth control clinics, members of San Diego County’s National Organization for Women have vowed to hold all-night “anti-vigilante” vigils at the Womancare Center on 4th Avenue in Hillcrest.

The vigils, organized by San Diego NOW Director January Riddle, are in response to the Saturday drive-by firebombing of the Birth Control Institute on El Cajon Boulevard. The fire, which caused an estimated $10,000 worth of damage to the clinic reception area, was the second in seven months. The clinic was leveled in September by an arson fire.

“The reason is to protect women’s rights,” Riddle said of the vigil. “We believe Womancare is in danger.”

Cindy Pearson, director of Womancare, said at least four people will participate in the vigil around the clock for an “indefinite period of time.” The vigil began Tuesday night, and Riddle vowed to continue it “as long as we need to.”

Pearson said the Rev. Dorman Owens and members of his Bible Missionary Fellowship in Santee, who frequently picket both clinics, “are morally responsible by creating a climate of violence.” She and Riddle called the group “vocally violent people.” Owens could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

According to clinic figures, the Birth Control Institute is visited every month by about 1,000 women, 20% of whom receive abortions. Womancare has about 400 clients a month, of whom 25% receive abortions, Pearson said.

Pearson said that although the two clinics are not affiliated, “we work together on reproductive rights issues and clinic defense issues.”

San Diego police spokesman Bill Robinson said the firebombing will be the featured crime on the Crime Stoppers program next week. In the program, police officials re-enact a crime on videotape and distribute the tape for broadcast on local television stations. Robinson said Crime Stoppers will offer a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

Bob Skopeck, special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for the Los Angeles District, which includes San Diego, said the bureau has at least two suspects under consideration but that “the people that we’re looking at right now . . . are not part of a national trend.” Of the 33 clinic bombings bureau has investigated nationwide, 22 have been solved, Skopeck said. The bureau also is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in connection with the fire in September.

Metro Arson Strike Team Detective John Buono said the team is working on “a few leads” in the more recent fire. He said the strike team has questioned witnesses, who were unable to get the license plate number of a car they saw leaving the scene. He said that the incident Saturday appears to involve “a different type of fire and a different type of suspect” from the one in September.