‘Cagney & Lacey’ Draws 150 Pickets

Singing, chanting and carrying signs, members of the Moral Majority marched outside KCBS-TV in Hollywood on Monday to protest the CBS network’s broadcast of a “Cagney & Lacey” episode about the bombing of an abortion clinic.

The TV network aired the program, titled “The Clinic,” at its regular time Monday evening, and all but one of its affiliates was planning to carry it.

As about 150 umbrella-carrying protesters filed past him, the Rev. Robert L. Hymers Jr., an anti-abortion crusader, charged that the episode portrayed “pro-lifers as fanatics, weirdos, and that just isn’t the case.”

The minister, pastor of the Baptist Tabernacle near downtown Los Angeles, accused the network of “exploiting a non-issue” when there hasn’t been an abortion clinic bombing for “nearly a year.” The issue “needs to be forgotten,” he said, because of the possibility of inciting bombings. “We will be back after the next bombing and blame CBS,” he added.

Signs reflected the same protest themes. “CBS Is Anti-Life,” one read. “CBS Revives Abortion Bombing Issue for Profit,” another read. The protesters chanted “Boycott CBS” and “Shame” between choruses of the song “We Shall Overcome” outside the station at 6121 Sunset Blvd.

The incident began late last month when it was reported that Barney Rosenzweig, executive producer of “Cagney & Lacey,” was previewing “The Clinic” for the National Organization for Women and the National Abortion Rights Action League. Rosenzweig said then that he was trying to drum up support to counter any move by anti-abortion groups to have the show pulled.

In fact, only one CBS affiliate, WXVT-TV in Greenville, Miss., refused to broadcast Monday night’s episode, Pamela Haslam, communications director for the CBS/Broadcast Group, said. The network itself had received only about 100 calls before the broadcast, she said, and those were equally split in favor of and against the program.

CBS did not consider equal-time rules applicable “because the program is very balanced,” Haslam added.

In the episode, Detective Mary Beth Lacey, played by Tyne Daly, reveals that she had an abortion at 19. Her partner, Detective Christine Cagney, played by Sharon Gless, has mixed feelings about abortion, but eventually advocates a woman’s right to have one.

At one point during Monday’s protest, seven uniformed police officers arrived, looked over the protesters and left after a sergeant talked to demonstration leaders. The demonstrators were instructed to leave room on the sidewalk for pedestrians.

After about 45 minutes, Hymers collected the marchers into a group and told them which media representatives had witnessed their demonstration. He invited the protesters to pray, then joined them in saying the Lord’s Prayer, pledging allegiance to the flag and singing “God Bless America” and the National Anthem before the group dispersed.