RSSYakima vigil honors slain abortion doctor
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Beverly Whipple remembered her mentor, friend and colleague Monday as a "a rare and generous man, and one of a kind."
Dr. George Tiller, who was gunned down in Wichita, Kan., on Sunday morning, was someone she had known for about 25 years. She said she met Tiller at a meeting of the National Abortion Federation and considered him a confidant.
"Losing Dr. George Tiller is beyond tragic; it is devastating for America. He was truly a great civil rights leader," said Whipple, executive director of Yakima's Cedar River Clinic, one of two local clinics that provide abortions.
"For at least 25 years, I have admired George and considered him my friend and colleague," she said.
A vigil for the slain doctor was held in downtown Yakima Monday night.
Organized by staff at Yakima's Cedar River Clinic, the event was held at Millennium Arts Plaza on South Third Street across from the Capitol Theatre.
About 20 people, mostly women, attended the event.
Yakima resident Mary Milam said she decided to come because Tiller's death represents a "brutal, senseless act of terrorism."
She made a sign that said, "Killing doctors is not pro-life."
Milam said she thought Tiller's death added to growing divisiveness in the national debate between fundamentalist opponents and advocates for women's health.
"We need to get it back to responsible reproductive health for all women," she said.
Organizers said they were happy with the turnout. They attributed the small crowd to late notice that the event was taking place, although they acknowledged the stigma sometimes associated with abortion.
Absent from the gathering were local abortion opponents, some of whom denounced Tiller's killing while also calling for a renewed national debate on abortion.
The Most Rev. Carlos A. Sevilla, Bishop of the Diocese of Yakima, encouraged Catholics to pray for Tiller and his family, and to have "a greater respect for all human life, from conception to natural death."
Tiller, one of the nation's few providers of late-term abortions, was serving as an usher during a morning worship service Sunday when he was shot in the foyer of Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita.
The slaying spurred condemnation from both anti-abortion and abortion-rights groups, as well as President Barack Obama.
In Yakima, it prompted members of the abortion rights community to condemn Tiller's killing -- and to assert support for reproductive rights.
"Reproductive freedom is our reason for being," said Joan Schrammeck, development and communications director for the nonprofit Cedar River Clinics.
Located in Yakima, Tacoma and Renton, Wash., the clinics specialize in women's reproductive health care, offering abortion, birth control, contraception, gynecological care, and free walk-in pregnancy tests. Together, they serve more than 7,000 women a year.
"Dr. Tiller's murder is intended as a threat to everyone who supports abortion access," she said, adding, "Safety is always a concern. ... we have had death threats by telephone, bomb threats, and vandalism. Fortunately, no assaults have happened in 2009, that I am aware of, but there have been picketers."
The Yakima clinic provides approximately 1,000 to 1,200 abortions per year, according to Schrammeck.
Planned Parenthood of Central Washington in Yakima also provides abortions. A Planned Parenthood spokeswoman did not return a phone call seeking comment Monday.
Whipple, a board member of the National Abortion Federation, said the murder of abortion providers should be viewed as an act of terrorism. "Our nation -- our president -- need to respond like it is terrorism," she said in a statement.
A flier advertising Monday's Yakima vigil featured a 2002 quote from Tiller, which reads: "I chose to become an abortion doctor because abortion is the single greatest issue of civil rights and personal freedom for women. "Similar vigils were taking place in Seattle and cities across the country.
"It's for mutual support. It's because we cannot do nothing. We can not be silent. We must stand up for women's human rights. And we want to be together," said Schrammeck, who had known Tiller more than 10 years.
"I'm horrified and deeply upset," she said. "Dr. Tiller was a hero, not just to women in his clinic, but to women all across America."
Sevilla called Tiller's killing "deplorable" and extended his sympathies to the doctor's family.
"It is doubly tragic that this unlawful act of violence happened at a church, which should be a place where all feel welcome and secure as they strive to draw closer to God," he said in a statement.
The bishop said he welcomes President Obama's recent invitation "to further national dialogue on the issue of abortion, which has claimed nearly 50 million innocent human lives since 1973."
On Jan. 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling in Roe v. Wade, establishing a woman's constitutional right to obtain an abortion.
"I think, from an evangelical perspective, the scripture's very clear about taking the life of another human being," said the Rev. Ken Parsely, senior pastor at Yakima' Church on the Move.
"The scripture certainly doesn't condone the taking of the life of another human being by murder," Parsely said. "But that also extends to the unborn."
Life Choices of Yakima advocates alternatives to abortion.
"We believe in the sacredness of life from conception until natural death," said Lenette Lindemann, the interim transition director of the Life Choices clinic. "We are opposed to all acts of violence that destroy innocent human life and affirm that violence is never the answer to resolve differing opinions on abortion."
Still, "All of us at Life Choices of Yakima are shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic death of Dr. George Tiller," Lindemann said. "We lift up prayers for his widow, children and church family."
This week, an American flag that was once posted at Tiller's Wichita clinic will be flown above Yakima's Cedar River Clinic.
It was given to Whipple, co-founder and executive director of Feminist Women's Health Center, which operates the Cedar River Clinics, two years ago during a time when Tiller's clinic was regularly visited by protesters.
In the summer of 2007, Whipple said, Tiller flew a new flag above his clinic each day and offered the flags to organizations "so that we could be a part of his effort."
We fly this flag all week as a testament to his commitment to freedom."
* Reporter Mark Morey contributed to this report.
Great article, Adriana! And I'm really pleased to see coverage of this event on the front page of the paper. I was there yesterday evening, and felt a bit disappointed with the small turnout, but your coverage lets me know that that more than 25 Yakima residents care about this crime.
Report ViolationThank you Dr. Tiller, may you rest in peace. This is the first I have heard of this story, I was wondering if he was gunned down because of his profession? I surely hope not. This is the last thing reproductive health needs,is doctors getting shot for helping women. This may inadvertently steer people away from joining this profession!
Report ViolationMr. Tiller had a more humane death than many of his victims. It is disgusting to witness this man's career being celebrated. His acts of violence had nothing to do with women's health.
Report ViolationHis murder, through some say is tragic, I think I'll hold my own vigil for the unborn he murdered for profit.
Report ViolationKEEP YOUR SCRIPTURE OFF MY BODY!
To Sjuan and BTR, his 'victims' you speak of may have been worse off had they been born. His 'acts of violence' as you call them are not seen as acts of violence under the LAW. Last time I checked, MURDER is AGAINST THE LAW. You see being gunned down in a church a more humane death than a surgical procedure? Remember the separation of Church and State? If you wanna live in a theocracy, move to Iran. Which you may like, considering in Iran women have almost no rights... Which, considering your position on this subject, seems to be your ideology as well.
I'm glad to see so-called Christians condoning murder... you are exposing yourselves as hypocrites! Doing my work for me!
"About 20 people, mostly women, attended the event".
The article also stated that 1,000 to 1,200 abortions are performed at Yakima's Cedar River Clinic each year.
FofoLina says....
"I'm glad to see so-called Christians condoning murder... you are exposing yourselves as hypocrites! Doing my work for me!"
My,what a rewarding and exhausting job you must have, "exposing Christians as hypocrites". Christians are not condoning the murder of Dr. Tiller...they are just refusing to condone the murders that Dr. Tiller committed. The low numbers at your Tiller vigil show what hypocrites the thousands of women in Yakima who had abortions last year are.If they are ok with killing their babies, then where were they last night?
I in no way condone the murder of Dr. George Tiller just like I do not condone the murder of the 60,000 babies he was responsible for. I cannot fathom how anyone can think that sucking the brains out of a 9 month old baby is moral. FofoLina mentioned the "Separation of Church and State". Please tell me where in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights (or even the Magna Carta) it mentions the "Separation of Church and State?" That phrase was orginally uttered by Thomas Jefferson and the meaning has been twisted to fit a perverted view of government by those on the left. Don't use the phrase if you are ignorant of its origin. FofoLina also mentions women in Iran have almost no rights and that is correct. No where does FofoLina mention the deaths of the 60,000 babies Dr. Tiller killed. That is pathetic! May God judge Dr. Tiller appropriately.
Report ViolationThe hatred spewing from the Pro Choice people shows how evil you people really are. The death of this single murderer stirs you up when just here in Yakima alone the genocidal atrocity of 1000 to 1200 murders of babies makes you happy. You people sicken me.
Report ViolationPathetic!
There is never EVER any open minded comments or replies. It is always some sort of hate spewed crap. Is that the best Yakima can do? Every time I read some of these comments I think "SMALL TOWNS = SMALL MINDS"! I would just hate to know some of you people in person, but more than that I fear your procreation over any abortion. Condoms honey lots and lot and lots and LOTS of CONDOMS! Please spare the world...
Farmer Jarhead,
You nailed it. Pro-abortion liberals scream about the treatment of terrorists and society's worst criminals, while cheering the slaughter of 1 million unborn children every year. These people have no credibility on moral issues.
klaravoyance...
There is never EVER any open minded comments or replies. It is always some sort of hate spewed crap....
"SMALL TOWNS = SMALL MINDS"
"hate to know some of you people in person"
" I fear your procreation over any abortion"
"Condoms honey lots and lot and lots "
"Please spare the world...
Right...and you are NOT contributing to this...how?
Overfifty,
Perhaps you should slow your roll and re-read my comment. Ok, now in the hopes that you have done so you will see that I never claimed to not be a contributer to anything.
Obviously you have taken to heart the fact that maybe I would hate to know you and fear unprotected sex you or your offspring maybe having.
Do you think your mind is small? If so be mad at yourself and those who you have chosen to follow. Not me I am just a stranger.
I have no claims of being peaceful or hateful or even open minded. I am not perfect nor am I anyones judge.
I am just a Yakima Herald Reader that thinks the comments are foolish most of the time. SO WHAT? I like foolish
things that's why I am having this conversation with you!
We here this hatred by many that Dr. Tiller was a murderer you got to get of of your fantasy land thinking.
Dr. Tiller followed the rule of Law and he was murdered. If you don't believe that abortion is for you then under the law you are not forced to have one (Choice what a radical ideal). The crime of murder is punishable by the law of the United State case your forgot, it's throw around by the the extremist that are ill informed.
It's a the right to privacy that has been the rule of settled law for over 30 years in Roe vs Wade. Remember you had a all Republican House, Senate and President and to Supreme Court appointees what did that get you?
Keep spending your money or your time with these "wackos" (Dobson, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Pat Roberts, because they know that Roe vs. Wade has no chance in the world to be reversed, but will use you time and time again.
Millions of Americans will work on reducing the numbers of Abortion with or with out you...You can be a part of it if you so choose. (Education-Contraception-Income equality maybe reduced working Hours from 40 hours week to a 30 hours week. This would give parents more quality time with there children what a radical ideal).
Well said, Army193. Contrary to popular rhetoric on this board, no one "cheers" abortions. No one celebrates, least of all the woman having one. We should, as one nationally popular pro-choice woman has said, work hard to make abortions "safe, legal and rare". Farmer Jarhead and Sjuan, perhaps you would wish to help us make abortions rare by supporting comprehensive sex education of the public AND our youth, making contraception readily available and for free, giving women and men as many options as possible before having to decide what to do about a pregnancy. Surely you would agree that one way to help prevent abortions is to help prevent unwanted pregnancies, right?
But, I suppose admitting that people will have sex before marriage and even as teenagers, whether we approve or not, and then forming public policy based on that reality would .... make sense, so I won't get my hopes up.
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