National Abortion Federation Blog: Saporta Reporter
| News about reproductive choice from the President and CEO of the National Abortion Federation, Vicki Saporta. |
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We continue to mourn the loss of our friend and colleague, Dr. George Tiller. Dr. Tiller was a dedicated physician who provided quality abortion care to women, at great personal sacrifice and risk. He is truly a hero to his fellow abortion providers and his patients. Dr. Tiller’s office is filled with letters from women, thanking him for the excellent, compassionate care he provided. Many of these women say Dr. Tiller saved their lives.
Since his tragic death, we have received messages from some of his patients and from people around the world who are saddened and outraged. We feel it is important to share these words and tributes to our beloved colleague and friend. For the first time, we will enable comments on our blog so that all of you can share your condolences or offer memories of Dr. Tiller. We invite you to join us in honoring a true American hero, Dr. George Tiller.
Post your comments, condolences, and personal memories of Dr. Tiller
B.C. Bubble Zone Law Upheld
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear a challenge to a provincial law banning protests outside abortion clinics after 11 years of court proceedings. The Court confirmed a unanimous ruling by the British Columbia Appeal Court upholding the Access to Abortion Services Act or “bubble zone” law, which prohibits protesters from coming within 50 meters of reproductive health care facilities. Anti-abortion extremist Donald David Spratt was arrested in 1998 for violating the Access to Abortion Services Act and has been challenging the law ever since. The day after this month’s Supreme Court decision, Spratt and a female protester were arrested outside NAF member Everywoman's Health Centre in Vancouver for again violating the bubble zone law. They are scheduled to appear in court this week. >Learn more about clinic protection bills.Labels: buffer zone laws, Canada, federal legislation
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U.S. Appeals Court Upholds Virginia Abortion Ban
Wednesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit upheld a Virginia abortion ban by a vote of 6-5. The decision reversed a 2-1 panel ruling in May 2008 that struck down the law on grounds that it would impose an “undue burden” on a woman’s right to obtain abortion care. The 2008 ruling affirmed the same court’s 2005 decision to strike down the abortion ban, a ruling that prevented Virginia’s law from taking effect. However, in 2007 the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a federal abortion ban and ordered the appeals court to reexamine the Virginia ruling. Like the federal law, Virginia’s act prohibits certain abortion procedures after the first trimester and lacks an exception to protect women’s health. In his dissenting opinion to the Wednesday decision, Judge M. Blane Michael emphasized that the Virginia law could also impose criminal liability on doctors who seek to perform legal abortions. "This result places an undue burden on a woman's right to obtain a pre-viability second trimester abortion -- a constitutional right repeatedly reaffirmed by the Supreme Court," he wrote.>Learn more about abortion rights in the states.>Learn more about the federal abortion ban.Labels: Federal Abortion Ban, state legislation
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Wednesday's Words from Women
 Over one-third of women of reproductive age have an abortion by the age of 45. However, women who have chosen abortion are often absent from the public debate. In order to break the silence surrounding abortion, we will be featuring real stories from real women each Wednesday on our blog. If you would like to share your story with us or have it published on our blog, go to http://www.prochoice.org/pregnant/hotline/share.html.My sweetheart and I decided that an abortion would be best in our situation because he is leaving for the military soon. I am pursuing my degree and would not be able to follow him. Plus, between the two of us we wouldn’t be able to provide the way we would want for our child. So we have decided to wait until later to have children. As far as being prochoice: it’s my body. --submitted by Liz* through a member clinic
NAF has helped me a lot. This pregnancy was just something that I was not ready for. I can’t explain the reason I feel I’m not ready. I just know that the clinic and Hotline have made things easier for me. --submitted by Julie* through a member clinic*Names have been changed to protect patient privacyLabels: patient stories, wednesday's words from women, women
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Wednesday's Words from Women
 Over one-third of women of reproductive age have an abortion by the age of 45. However, women who have chosen abortion are often absent from the public debate. In order to break the silence surrounding abortion, we will be featuring real stories from real women each Wednesday on our blog. If you would like to share your story with us or have it published on our blog, go to http://www.prochoice.org/pregnant/hotline/share.html.When I was in my freshman year of college, I got pregnant even though I was on the "pill." I was so scared because I had plans for myself. I needed to finish school and get a good job and establish my life before I brought another one into this world. I wanted to have kids one day but I wanted to be able to give them everything they wanted. I didn't want to have my children, the people I would come to care for and love more than anything in the world, suffer for a mistake I made. I decided to get an abortion, and I had to travel 50 miles to the nearest clinic. Afterward I felt very relieved and went on to finish my freshman year with a 4.0. Now, 3 years later I have a beautiful one-year-old daughter who has everything she'll ever need because I was ready. I'm extremely grateful that I had the choice to wait so that my daughter may have a better life. Thank You. -- submitted by Keisha* through a member clinicI just want to say thank you and God Bless you to those who donate to this cause. This decision was hard to make; I am a single mom of three kids who just graduated. I really need to take care of the children I have and could not if I were to go through with this pregnancy. Thank you for allowing me to pursue my dreams of taking care of the children I have. -- submitted by Katie* through a member clinic*Names have been changed to protect patient privacyLabels: patient stories, shared stories, wednesday's words from women, women
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Attorney General Decries Violence Against Abortion Providers
Yesterday, Attorney General Eric Holder renewed his call for stronger hate crimes legislation, citing recent fatal shootings, including the murder of NAF member Dr. George Tiller. Holder said nothing could justify the act. " We will not tolerate murder or the threat of violence masquerading as political activism," he said. "And we will do all that we can to deter violence against reproductive health care providers and to prosecute those who commit such violence to the fullest extent of the law." >See the latest statistics on violence against abortion providers.Labels: Attorney General, Dr. George Tiller, violence
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Wednesday's Words from Women
 Over one-third of women of reproductive age have an abortion by the age of 45. However, women who have chosen abortion are often absent from the public debate. In order to break the silence surrounding abortion, we will be featuring real stories from real women each Wednesday on our blog. If you would like to share your story with us or have it published on our blog, go to http://www.prochoice.org/pregnant/hotline/share.html.It is not a the right time in my life to have a baby. I don’t have enough financial stability to take care of myself and the child that I already have. I just started school to make my life better for my child and future children. I thought long and hard about this alternativedecision, and. I think I’m making the right choice for me and my family.
--submitted by Lucinda* through a member clinic
I found out that I was pregnant and knew that I was not ready mentally or financially for such a huge responsibility. I am so thankful for NAF and the clinic. Thank you so much for allowing me to make an informed and important decision about my body and my future.
--submitted by Kendall* through a member clinic
*Names have been changed to protect patient privacy
Labels: patient stories, wednesday's words from women
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Dr. Tiller's Family Closes Clinic
Today we released the following statement in response to the announcement that the Tiller family will not re-open Women’s Health Care Services, Inc. in Wichita, KS:For more than 35 years, Women’s Health Care Services, Inc. provided women
from Wichita and around the world with high-quality abortion care. The murder of
our member Dr. George Tiller has been a devastating loss not only for his
family, but for the abortion provider community and the many women who relied on
him for care. We respect the family’s decision to close the clinic, and our
hearts go out to them as they grieve during this very difficult time.
Although Women’s Health Care Services, Inc. will not reopen, our members
remain committed to ensuring that women are able to obtain the abortion care
they need.
>Post your comments, condolences, and personal memories of Dr. Tiller hereLabels: Dr. George Tiller
Remembering NAF Member Dr. George Tiller
 Yesterday, we suffered a tremendous loss when our beloved colleague and friend Dr. George Tiller was murdered in his church in Wichita, Kansas. It is with great respect and sadness that we send his family our heartfelt condolences. We join with our members in remembering and honoring Dr. Tiller’s life and his many contributions to women’s reproductive health care. He was often seen wearing a button that read “Attitude is Everything,” and he maintained an amazing attitude and generosity of spirit throughout his life, despite the adversity he faced on a regular basis. Dr. Tiller learned to live with constant harassment and even survived a previous attempt on his life. However, despite these attacks, Dr. Tiller remained committed to providing women with quality abortion care because he knew how much his work affected and improved their lives. His death is a devastating loss to his family, the abortion provider community, and the women who rely on him for care. He is truly one of our heroes and we will miss him greatly.
>Post a comment or memory about Dr. TillerLabels: Dr. George Tiller
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