Customer Reviews

Targets of Hatred: Anti-Abortion Terrorism

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1 star:		(4)

 

 

I found this book to be an excellent source of information about the abortion movement. The unsung heroes. The violence against the abortion providers is quite astounding. This book documented quite well the story. For me, it put the entire issue in perspective. I strongly recommend it.

So many people are averse to talking about how abortion providers are targets of domestic terrorism. Targets of Hatred proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is a part of the everyday lives of abortion providers and their families and vigilant, dedicated clinic defenders around the country. Shame on the pro life Christians who turn a blind eye to the outrage and the violence. Shame on the law enforcement officials of both political parties who through their negligence are complicit in an unprecedented crime wave of political violence. Anyone who has previously turned a blind eye to clinic violence may now see the long term pattern of harassment and violence against people practicing medicine entirely within their legal and constitutional rights.

The only limitation of this powerful and necessary work is that it is weak on the political context of the Christian Right and how anti-choice violence fits. For this corollary perspective, I recommend Eternal Hostility: The Struggle Between Theocracy and Democracy by Frederick Clarkson, which does an outstanding job of explaining the theocratic vision behind much antiabortion violence and detailing connections to the militia movement. Also useful is Wrath of Angels, by James Risen and Judy Thomas for more on the history of Operation Rescue.

I have just read this book back-to-back with Eternal Hostility: The Struggle Between Theocracy and Democracy by Frederick Clarkson. I am convinced from these books that there is a serious effort underway to destablize constitutional democracy as well as to end access to abortion. The level of violence and harrassment documented and clearly presented in Targets of Hatred is just astounding and as Eternal Hostility shows, the terrorism is often aimed at casting doubt on the legitimacy and stability of democratic institutions even as it wreaks havok and carnage at women's health centers. But you wouldn't know it from the media, which reports the violence and interviews the leaders, but just can't seem to put it all together. But if you read Targets of Hatred and Eternal Hostility together the way I just did, you can put it together for yourself.

At last! The true story! I cannot recommend this book highly enough to anyone who wants to know the truth about antiabortion activists and the terror they inflict on anyone who disagrees with them.

Having been a victim of these people, I know that what Ms. Windle and Ms. Bader write is accurate.

All Americans should read this book!

I learned a great deal about the history of the struggle to make abortion legal. But more importantly, I learned that this legal right is being eroded by the violence, harassment and threats against the doctors, nurses, and staff who work in woman's healthcare. The interviews with abortion providers were extremely moving, as the harmful effects of anti-abortion violence on patients and staff was made concrete. Although filled with well documented facts, the book reads quite easily. Anyone who is pro-choice, or open to the issues, will like this book. And it encourages the pro-choice movement to develop a clearer strategy to make sure that abortion remain a viable option.

This is an important book, crammed with information about the activities of those who violently--in every sense of the word--oppose a woman's right to choose. It's quite readable which is surprising in a book with almost 50 pages of documentation. (But it's reassuring to have that documentation since some of the anti-abortion violence would be otherwise unbelievable.)The organization, chronological beginning in l962 and coming up to 200l, makes it easy to dip into without gettng "lost" if you don't want to read it straight through. And the descriptions of both abortion providers and those trying to destroy them (and their practice) are clear and poignant. Quotes add to the impact of those descriptions.

A revealing look at the inner workings of the militant and violent "prolife" cult in America today.

This is a must read for all abortion providers and people interested in the pro-choice movement which has been harassed by anti-abortion terrorism for over 2 decades. Chilling individual accounts of acts of violence are multiplied in their impact when put in chronological order and repeated nationwide. It's hard to imagine these are "isolated instances" when chronicled in this fashion. AnnRose, Abortion Clinics OnLine

This book was frightening and should be read by anyone who thinks the pro-life forces are just "good Christians." "Targets of Hatred" exposes the truth about them.

The reviews by Meredith Raney and Chip Rohlke are nonsense. (I wonder if they even read the book.) These two are obviously antiabortion in their sentiments, determined to end legal and safe abortion.

I am currently writing Bill Baird's autobiography. His U.S. Supreme Court victory, Baird v. Eisenstadt knocked out every birth control law in 1972. This set the foundation for Roe v. Wade. After three years of researching the history of the pro choice movement via 375 boxes of documentation, I feel confident in stating that "Targets of Hatred" is "right on target".

The online anti-abortion reviews of the book show first-hand the hatred that heroic abortion clinic medical professionals face daily. Chip Rohlke stated that the book is "pure bunk" however, was not compelled to document his claims. He said he has known co-author Baird-Windle and her husband for 15 years yet furtively leaves out in what capacity. I am doubtful he is a family friend. Was he a regular picketer at her clinic? Did he picket her home; a chilling tactic that "Targets" discloses? Chip and others like him never discuss the fate of women if they get their wish and abortion becomes a crime. Before Roe 10,000 women died annually from quack abortions. Opponents to abortion are blind to the fact that their own relatives may die if they are successful. Tragically, this happened to the parents of Becky Bell. They were once anti-abortion activists turned pro choice because their 17-year-old daughter died of a botched abortion. While Chip and others vilify clinic owners and some lie stating that women die routinely of abortion this is simply false. Bill Baird (the "Father of the Abortion Movement") whose book I am writing, ran three clinics for three decades. Not one woman died. In the world of fact, the antis forget to state that abortion is nine times safer than childbirth.

Chip claims to know of a former clinic owner whom he states forced women to have abortions. The fact is that abortion providers should not be singled out for malpractice as it happens across the board in the medical profession and far less in the abortion field. What is dangerous is that Chip's side fights against funding for training future abortion physicians. Or, medical students avoid that field due to the violence.

I'm glad that Chip made a reference to "witches" solifying my contention that we are still experiencing a Dark Ages mentality where women continue to be victims of a "witch hunt."

Especially frightening was Meredith Raney's online review of "Targets." She wrote, "Most of the incidents described in this book are not violent at all..." That can only mean that she does not feel kidnappings, bombings and chemically bombings, stalking, picketing of staff homes and funerals, copying patient license plates, hurling invectives such as "murdering whores" or "wives of Satan", pushing staff into traffic, chaining themselves to or destroying equipment, stealing fetuses from clinics or placing them in their dumpsters, etc. are forceful acts.

If the anti-abortion argument is so obvious, why must their case be presented through threats and violence? "Targets of Hatred" is a threat to the anti-abortion side because there is no slipping away from the hard evidence the book presents.

If I had one wish it would be that every person who believes in Justice Brennan's famous quote "If the right of privacy means anything it is the right of the individual to be free...to decide whether to bear or beget a child" (Baird v. Eisenstadt) read Targets of Hatred. Joni Scott, Associate Director Pro Choice League (ProChoiceLeague.com)