Comments on: Dr. Tiller, Me, and the Legacy of Hatred

By: MA

MA — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:23:24 +0000

When I see protesters, I am always tempted to walk up to them and ask how many adopted babies and foster kids they are currently parenting.

By: emily

emily — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 05:17:57 +0000

so sad for the man who was a Shoah survivor. My grandparents were survivors, I would be so angry and upset if I heard anyone say anything like this to them. I just am appalled that people use the term "nazi" as if it is some general term, some word to just float around, as if people really have no idea. oy. thanks for posting this whole thing, it must have taken all your willpower to not react in an angry way. .-= emily´s last blog ..Indian-spiced Coconut Milk Rice Pudding =-.

By: Pedgehog

Pedgehog — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:11:28 +0000

Thank you for sharing this story! And thanks for the work you do for women. Clinic escorts are more appreciated than they will ever know by the patients and staff of clinics. .-= Pedgehog´s last blog ..It's Those Front Lines Everyone Talks About... =-.

By: Sara Dodder Furr

Sara Dodder Furr — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 03:44:12 +0000

Jake, thank you for sharing this moving, personal experience. These are the stories which shape our beliefs. You have courage. It is difficult to publicly say we believe in a woman’s right to choose because some will condemn us for that. My mother lost a dear cousin to a botched, illegal abortion, long before abortion became legal. Eliminating those who perform safe abortions or making abortion illegal won’t stop abortions.

By: Siby

Siby — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:44:39 +0000

Thank you for this post, but most of all, thank you for the services that you provided to women. Clinic escorts are really a big help, and you’ve really helped many of these women. In a world that is constantly fighting against our rights, we need more people like you.

By: Arwyn

Arwyn — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:17:41 +0000

I know THAT it is, but I still don’t understand WHY that’s a controversial view. They all have to do with women having the right to decide for herself what to do with her body, in regards to reproduction. Well, I understand why some who support breastfeeding and natural birth are opposed to legal abortion (if their reason is it’s best for baby, not a right of the woman), it’s the other way I don’t understand.

Anyway great post, and thank you for doing the work that you did, and for witnessing and telling that story.
.-= Arwyn´s last blog ..Murphy’s Law and other superstitions =-.

By: Jake

Jake — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:37:48 +0000

Thanks Ashley. While still in law school, I worked as a law clerk on Northeast Women’s Center v. McGonigle – the first use of the RICO Act against abortion clinic protesters (and we were successful). I took much of the video tape used in that trial as evidence of a criminal conspiracy. As a very young lawyer, I was the most junior associate on Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the successful challenge to the Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act.

I have always seen my legal work on behalf of mothers as a natural extension of my legal work concerning reproductive rights. I know this is a controversial view but I believe birthing rights, breastfeeding rights, and the right to abortion, are all reproductive rights.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:28:15 +0000

Wow Jake, I had no idea you had done this kind of work.

Great post!