From: elendil@seashell.mintir.new-orleans.la.us (Edward J. Branley)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.catholic
Subject: Re: Operation Rescue
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 92 16:29:36 CST
Organization: Seashell Software

"Gordon C. Zaft" <zaft@CARITAS.COTDAZR.ORG> writes:

> On Dec 7,  7:17pm, "Edward J. Branley" wrote:
> } Subject: Re: Operation Rescue
> } On the same subject, 20 or so OR protestors were arrested at the same clini
> } today.  They were trying for some holiday publicity, so they all marched on
>  the
> } clinic in Santa suits.  Six of the group arrested were charged with aggrava
> } battery because they physically charged the clinic security guard with a
> } makeship sleigh made up to match the outfits.
>
>         The newspaper account I saw of this said specifically that they did
> not affiliate themselves with a group.  Do you have different information,
> or did you assume they were part of OR?

Baton Rouge reporters spotted national and local OR representatives at the
staging area for the protest and within a block of the actual demonstration.
Looks like a case of trying to maintain denialability.  Such is the legacy of
OR training.

> }
> } aggravated battery means that they really committed a serious violent crime
> } In LA (as I'm sure in other states), simple battery is the crime that would
> } result from a fistfight or pushing match.  An aggravated crime involves a
> } weapon and injuries that result from the use of that weapon.  This means th
> } the clinic guard was seriously injured by the actions of these protestors.
> } much for your 'anecdotes,' Gordon.  These people are dangerous and violent.
> } There is no other way to categorize this movement.
>
>         The account I read was that they basically blocked him from coming
> after them by surrounding them with their sleighs.  While admittedly
> illegal, I seriously doubt they were 'dangerous and violent'.

The guard was pinned against a van by one of those sleighs, not surrounded.  He
required medical attention as a result.  Frankly, if six people charged me with
a 200-pound sleigh with the intent of making a sandwich out of me, the van and
the sleigh, I'd be quite unhappy.  I'm surprised there aren't dead protestors
as a result of that guard firing on them.

>
>         As for film footage, I have seen film footage of a policeman
> BREAKING AN OR PERSON'S ARM.  How's that for violence?  I have also
> seen reports of female OR protestors being strip-searched and harrassed
> by jail guards.  A woman whose husband I met lost her baby after being
> punched and kicked by a policeman in LA (she was 6 months pregnant, I
> think).
>
>         I can probably get you a copy of the video if you really want
> it.

So, two wrongs make a right?  The end justifies the means?  Situational ethics.
At what point do the wrongs stop making a right?  Does OR or any other group
protesting abortion have the moral obligation to injure, possibly kill someone
to further their cause?

>
>         By the way, you say 'the clinic guard was seriously injured', but
> that is your conjecture, not fact (unless you have more information than
> I've seen, which is certainly quite possible).  Considering the outrageous
> charges I've seen levied against OR protestors before, I wouldn't make
> such assumptions.

Newspaper accounts said he required emergency medical attention.  The Baton
Rouge police cut OR a lot of slack last summer.  They were more than tolerant
of out-of-control people on both sides.  Given that the guard required medical
attention and the level-headedness of the police in that city, if they charged
the protestors with a crime as serious as aggravated battery, I believe the
reports that the guard was injured.

>
>         For example, Randall Terry was sued under the RICO statutes in
> an attempt to confiscate all his personal possessions.  This is a gross
> abuse of power.
>

Randall Terry is a racketeer.  His tactics are no better than the boss of an
organized crime family.  I agree with the application of RICO against such a
criminal.



|Edward J. Branley         elendil@mintir.new-orleans.la.us|
|Seashell Software, Metairie, LA            +1-504-455-5087|
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