Reno Meets With Groups on Both Sides of Abortion Issue

Atty. Gen. Janet Reno met Friday with groups from both sides of the abortion issue, but she refused to see some anti-abortionists who have violated court orders or are opposing the government in court cases.

Representatives of women’s rights groups said that at their meeting Reno renewed her promises of a thorough investigation of alleged violence by anti-abortion activists.

The Justice Department also said she later told some abortion foes--at a separate meeting--that their legitimate right to protest in public would not be jeopardized.

Among the anti-abortion groups that met with Reno were Concerned Women for America, Americans United for Life and the National Women’s Coalition for Life.

But Reno refused to meet with other anti-abortion activists because they have violated court orders or are involved in legal matters in which the government is an adversary, Justice Department spokesman Carl Stern said.

Members of the women’s rights groups said they were reassured by their meeting with Reno and also heartened that she declined to meet with what they called extremist anti-abortion forces.

“It’s a step in the right direction,” said Pamela Maraldo of Planned Parenthood. “We’re going to monitor the situation very closely.”

Maraldo said Reno “was visibly upset” when participants in the first meeting described attacks on abortion clinics and doctors. As a sign of good faith, Maraldo said, Reno gave the groups her home phone number and told them they could call her there to check on the progress of the investigation.

Stern said Reno told those participants that abortion clinic operators could take complaints of alleged violence to the department’s criminal division here or to local U.S. attorneys or FBI field offices.

Meanwhile, some abortion foes expressed anger after they were told Friday morning that they would not be allowed to meet with Reno as previously planned.

The Rev. Patrick Mahoney of Operation Rescue told reporters outside the Justice Department: “We have to believe clearly that we are being discriminated against. She’s refusing to meet with us. We are nonviolent. We have committed to that on a personal level.”