Rightgrrl Condemns the Shooting of Barnett Slepian

October 26, 1998
Rightgrrl would like to express its unequivocal condemnation of the shooting of Barnett Slepian, an Amherst, New York abortion practitioner. Such violent, anti-life actions are contrary to everything we believe in and completely contrary to the pro-life ethic held by the millions in the mainstream pro-life community. Our heart goes out to the family of Barnett Slepian, and we at Rightgrrl hope that the guilty party is caught and punished to the full extent of the law. Rightgrrl does not condone any type of violence in the name of "pro-life". Such actions are repugnant and absolutely wrong.

During this tragic time, we noticed that the media is not paying attention to the anti-violence, mainstream pro-life groups, but prefer to focus on some of the extremists who are NOT a valid part of the pro-life community. Why aren't the statements from Feminists for Life, the National Right to Life Committee, or the National Coalition for Life and Peace in the news? All of these organizations have sent out press releases completely condemning this violence. Yet, it seems as if the most quoted person in the media is the fringe extremist Donald Spitz. We ask that the media start paying attention to the mainstream pro-life organizations who have always condemned the use of violence in any way, shape of form.

All groups, pro-life and pro-choice, must work together to stop these horrendous actions. It is easy to point fingers at all pro-lifers, and to place blame on anyone who holds a pro-life belief. All this finger-pointing does though, is further validate the actions of the extreme. By repeatedly breaking down distinctions between protestors and violent criminals, by continually linking the pro-life movement to these lunatics, the message that is sent to these terrorists is that they ARE part of the pro-life mainstream. This undercuts the pro-life community's efforts to make clear to these people that violence is unacceptable, that they are indeed NOT welcome in pro-life circles, and that what they do is contrary to what we're all working for.

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