Archive for Scott Roeder
Feminist Majority Foundation Hails Roeder’s Sentencing to “Hard 50”
“Scott Roeder will spend the rest of his life in prison, but those who may have aided and abetted his murder of Dr. George Tiller are still walking free,” said Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF) President Eleanor Smeal. “There has been an escalation in violence, threats of violence and harassment at clinics in 14 states, and we fear where it will end if the network of those advocating violence is not brought to justice.”
According to trial testimony, Roeder has collaborated for over a decade with Army of God adherents, a web of violent extremists who actively promote the murder of doctors and other healthcare professionals who provide abortion services. Army of God follower Shelley Shannon was convicted of a 1994 attempt on the life of Dr. Tiller. In addition, the Army of God claimed responsibility for numerous bombings of abortion clinics, including the bombing of a clinic in Alabama that killed a guard and badly maimed a nurse. Dr. Tiller was the ninth murder victim, with more than two dozen wounded, in domestic terrorism by anti-abortion extremists. In each of these cases, only a lone perpetrator was charged and prosecuted, despite evidence of nationwide actions that amounted to aiding and abetting criminal activity.
“Doctors are being threatened at their clinics, stalked at their homes, and plastered on WANTED posters. There will be more victims unless the federal government acts swiftly,” said FMF Executive Vice President Katherine Spillar, an expert in clinic terrorism who leads the FMF’s National Clinic Access Project.
“It has been nearly a year since Dr. Tiller’s murder, yet no federal charges have been brought. It’s hard to believe that he acted entirely alone, and we urge Attorney General Eric Holder to vigorously pursue and prosecute those who may have advised or acted in concert with Scott Roeder. Until we stop the network of zealots who recruit, arm, conspire, advise, coordinate and support the Scott Roeders of their movement, the next murder is just around the corner,” said Spillar.
The Feminist Majority Foundation runs the National Clinic Access Project, which is the oldest and largest clinic defense project in the nation – researching and tracking extremist groups, organizing community support for clinics, providing safety assessments, sponsoring litigation to defend clinics, and working with law enforcement to stop violence against abortion providers. Spillar attended the trial of Roeder in Wichita, Kansas, and leads the project.-
FMF Hails Roeder Jury Verdict, Calls on Justice Department to Act
Dr. George Tiller
In reaction to the unanimous jury verdict convicting Scott Roeder on one count of first-degree murder in the death of Dr. George Tiller and two counts of aggravated assault, Feminist Majority Foundation President Eleanor Smeal and Executive Vice President Katherine Spillar released the following statements:
Smeal said, “Defense efforts to establish that Roeder’s actions were justifiable failed miserably. The jury saw Roeder’s actions for what they were: cold-blooded murder.”
Spillar stated, “Roeder’s own words on the stand revealed that his ‘sidewalk counseling’ outside the clinic was a cover for his surveillance of Dr. Tiller’s ‘comings and goings’ and an opportunity to determine Tiller’s and the clinic’s vulnerabilities.” She continued, “Roeder’s testimony, during questioning by District Attorney Nola Foulston, opened the door wide for the Department of Justice to establish that there was a broader conspiracy to murder Dr. Tiller and other abortion providers. Now it is time for the federal Department of Justice to act.”
The Feminist Majority Foundation runs the National Clinic Access Project, which is the oldest and largest national clinic defense project in the nation. Executive Vice President Spillar attended the trial of Scott Roeder in Wichita, Kansas, and leads the project.
Feminist Majority Alarmed at Rulings in Dr. Tiller Murder Trial
“Let there be no mistake, the rulings of Kansas Judge Warren Wilbert are being seen by extremists as a green light for those who would murder abortion providers,” said Katherine Spillar, Executive Vice President of the Feminist Majority Foundation.
Don Spitz, who manages the Army of God website and advocates the murder of abortion providers as “justifiable homicide,” has been in touch with confessed killer Scott Roeder. According to the Associated Press, Spitz believes the decision may influence some people to kill abortion providers because of the possibility of a lower sentence for voluntary manslaughter. Spitz told the AP that the decision “may increase the number of people who may be willing to take that risk.”
Despite his statements to the contrary, by refusing today to set reasonable parameters on testimony and evidence, Judge Wilbert is effectively permitting Roeder to use a “justifiable homicide” defense that the judge had previously said Roeder could not use.
“The judge can instruct a jury to disregard inflammatory or prejudicial statements after they’ve been made, but the reality is that you can’t un-ring a bell,” concluded Spillar.
Katherine Spillar is the Executive Vice President of the Feminist Majority Foundation and leads its National Clinic Access Project, which is the oldest and largest national clinic defense project in the nation.
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