- Operation Rescue (Kansas)
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See also: History of Operation Rescue and Operation Save America
Operation Rescue (formerly Operation Rescue West or California Operation Rescue) is a pro-life organization which originated in California and is now based in Kansas.
Operation Rescue West was founded by Operation Rescue's tactical director, Jeff White, as a branch of Randall Terry's original Operation Rescue organization. Under Jeff White, Operation Rescue West stayed true to the original intent of the Operation Rescue organization, maintaining its focus on abortion. White stepped down in 1999 following an $880,000 judgment against his organization for harassment and intimidation of Planned Parenthood staff and handed the organization over to the leadership of Troy Newman. In 2002, Newman moved the headquarters to Wichita, Kansas,[1][2][3] to focus its efforts on late term abortion provider, George Tiller.
Contents
Activities
After the FACE (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances)[4][5] bill was signed into law by then-president Bill Clinton, Operation Rescue West implemented new tactics that did not involve arrest.
Operation Rescue operates a fleet of what it refers to as “Truth Trucks”, large panel vehicles that bear images of aborted fetuses.[6] These “Truth Trucks” travel around the nation showing what Operation Rescue describes as “grisly truth about abortion.”
Abortion Whistle Blowers program
The organization offers a $25,000 incentive for reports of criminal activity at abortion clinics which leads to a criminal conviction.[7] Kim Nichols, a former employee an an abortion clinic, received the first award in 2011. She reported Rapin Osathanondh who performed an abortion resulting in the death of one Laura Hope Smith, the daughter of Eileen Smith.[8]
Malachi Award
The Malachi Award in an annual award given for service to the pro-life movement. It is named after a fetus discovered outside of an abortion clinic in Texas. The name means "my messenger" and was given to the fetus by the executive secretary of New York Lambs of Christ.[9][10]
Recipients of Operation Save America's Annual Malachi Award Name Year Reason Note Phill Kline[11] 2006 Investigations of George Tiller and Planned Parenthood[12] Leslee Unruh Spearheading the South Dakota abortion ban.[11] Johnny Hunter Exposing what the group believes to be the devastating effects of abortion on the African American community[13] Lila Rose 2008 For exposing illegal activity in abortion clinics[14][15][16] James Pouillon 2009 Murdered at a pro-life protest at Owosso High School[13] Awarded posthumously Eileen Smith 2010 Her daughter died during an abortion procedure; the doctor who performed the procedure pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was imprisoned.[17][18] Lawsuit over use of name
Randall Terry filed a lawsuit against Troy Newman in 2008, alleging misuse of the name "Operation Rescue." Former Rescue leaders, including Keith Tucci (director), Patrick Mahoney (media director), Jeff White (tactical director) have signed a statement in support of Newman. “We now feel compelled to speak up because Randall’s actions are hurting the work of Troy Newman and Operation Rescue in their efforts to see George Tiller end his barbaric abortion practices in Wichita, Kansas. Additionally, we can no longer remain silent while Mr. Terry continues to fleece unsuspecting pro-life people out of hundreds of thousands of dollars for his personal and selfish gain.”[19] Randall Terry feels that, as the initial creator of the organization, he has ownership of the Operation Rescue trademark. Terry headed the organization he started in 1987 until 1991.
Dr. Tiller
Efforts against Tiller
Operation Rescue resides in the building formerly housing Central Women's Services (also previously known as Wichita Family Planning), an abortion clinic in Wichita, Kansas. According to documents at the Sedgwick County Register of Deeds office, Alison White purchased the building in June 2006.[20] White then donated the former clinic to her father's anti-abortion organization, Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust.[21]
Operation Rescue also has publicized a number of allegedly "botched" abortions[22] at Tiller’s Women’s Health Care Services, including the death of Christin A. Gilbert following a third-trimester abortion.[23] Operation Rescue staff have also investigated and made allegations[24] regarding other facilities around the country.[25][26] Dr. Tiller was cleared of any charges of medical neglect in the death of Christin Gilbert.[citation needed]
In September 2006, Newman and pro-life activist Keith Mason showed up at an open-air gubernatorial debate dressed as cockroaches, protesting alleged unsanitary conditions at Tiller's clinic. Democratic State Rep. Vaughn Flora (Topeka) recognized Newman, tore his mask off, and was arrested for battery. Flora was fined $100 in return for a nolo plea. Newman later launched a $75,000 lawsuit against Flora which was dismissed. As of September 8, 2006, Youth Ministries Inc. (the incorporated name for Operation Rescue) had its 501(c)(3) status revoked by the IRS, following charges of improper use of contributions, and illegal endorsements of political candidates.[27]
Operation Rescue also worked to mobilize support in the Kansas State Legislature to order the newly-elected Attorney General, Democrat Paul Morrison, to reinstate misdemeanor charges that were dismissed on jurisdictional grounds against Dr. Tiller. The group planned a rally in front of the offices of ADA Nora Foulston, to present evidence of mass murder against Tiller.
Response to Tiller's murder
On May 31, 2009, Tiller was assassinated in his church. Scott Roeder of Merriam, KS was convicted of first degree murder in the shooting. Operation Rescue denounced Tiller's murder in numerous statements, describing it as "cowardly"[28][29] and "antithetical to what we believe"[30] The group also noted that Roeder had "never been a member, contributor, or volunteer with Operation Rescue."[31] Roeder responded to Newman's charges by declaring, "Well, my gosh. I've got probably a thousand dollars worth of receipts, at least, from the money I've donated to him."[32]
The phone number for Operation Rescue's senior policy advisor, Cheryl Sullenger, was found on the dashboard of Scott Roeder's car.[33] At first Sullenger, who was convicted for conspiring to blow up a California abortion clinic in 1988, denied any contact with him, saying that her phone number is freely available online. Then, she revised her statements, indicating that she informed Scott Roeder of where Dr Tiller would be at specific times:
"He would call and say, 'When does court start? When’s the next hearing?'" Sullenger said. "I was polite enough to give him the information. I had no reason not to. Who knew? Who knew, you know what I mean?"[34]
See also
- History of Operation Rescue
- George Tiller, murdered doctor who provided late term abortions
- Operation Save America, formerly Operation Rescue and later Operation Rescue National
References
- ^ Operation Rescue buys abortion clinic
- ^ Notorious Child Killers George Tiller & LeRoy Carhart Team Up to Celebrate 29 Years of Killing God's Children in Wichita - Three Press Releases, OSA website
- ^ History of Operation Rescue, OperationRescue.org
- ^ Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, National Abortion Federation
- ^ FREEDOM OF ACCESS TO CLINIC ENTRANCES ACT, Library of Congress
- ^ Protesters Who Push Limits, Los Angeles Times, Feb 17, 2004
- ^ http://www.operationrescue.org/archives/abortion-whistleblowers-earn-a-10000-reward
- ^ http://www.operationrescue.org/archives/former-abortion-worker-to-receive-first-abortion-whistleblower-reward-of-25000
- ^ http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=825330
- ^ New York Lambs of Christ. "Baby Malachi, A History". Priests for Life. http://www.priestsforlife.org/resources/abortionimages/babymalachi.htm. Retrieved 2011-03-06.
- ^ a b http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/316091762.html
- ^ http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/316091762.html
- ^ a b http://www.operationrescue.org/archives/slain-activist-james-pouillon-named-operation-rescue%E2%80%99s-2009-%E2%80%9Cperson-of-the-year%E2%80%9D/
- ^ http://www.operationrescue.org/archives/lila-rose-chosen-as-operation-rescue%E2%80%99s-2008-person-of-the-year
- ^ http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/politics/1405/planned_parenthood_%E2%80%98stung%E2%80%99_by_lila_rose
- ^ http://www.cbs42.com/content/localnews/story/Planned-Parenthood-Caught-Breaking-the-Law/C41MzG-1vU-u0KRpHkAl3A.cspx
- ^ Ballou, Brian R. (September 15, 2010). "Ex-doctor sentenced to prison in death of abortion patient". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/09/15/former_doctor_gets_prison_for_death_of_cape_abortion_patient/.
- ^ http://www.operationrescue.org/archives/crusading-mom-eileen-smith-named-operation-rescues-2010-person-of-the-year
- ^ Three Statements Concerning Randall Terry’s Unbiblical Lawsuit Against Troy Newman, OperationRescue.org
- ^ http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3510/3741052010_63a768db15_o.jpg
- ^ http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3468/3740259601_7f8b1b4148_o.jpg
- ^ Justice For Christin
- ^ [1]
- ^ Illegal Fetal Age Deception Scheme Uncovered At Tiller’s Abortion Clinic, OperationRescue.org
- ^ Background: History Of The Notorious Clinic Medica Para La Mujer De Hoy Abortion Chain
- ^ Pro-life Whistleblower Is Billed $1,100, Abortionist Hodari Fined Nothing For Illegal Dumping, OperationRescue.org
- ^ Internal Revenue Service Recent Revocations of 501(c)(3) Determinations, Last Updated: August 31, 2007
- ^ Operation Rescue Denounces The Killing of Abortionist Tiller
- ^ US abortion doctor is shot dead, BBC, 2009-06-01, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8076253.stm, retrieved 2009-06-01
- ^ Monica Davey and Joe Stumpe (2009-05-31), Doctor Who Performed Abortions Is Shot to Death, New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/us/01tiller.html, retrieved 2009-05-31
- ^ Operation Rescue Statement Regarding Suspect In Tiller Killing
- ^ Thomas, Judy. "Roeder Upset at Operation Rescue." Wichita Eagle 26 July 2009: A1.
- ^ Phone number found inside car of man suspected of killing George Tiller belongs to woman who plotted 1988 clinic bombing, Pitch, 2009-06-01, http://blogs.pitch.com/plog/2009/06/inside_the_car_of_the.php, retrieved 2009-06-03
- ^ Operation Rescue adviser helped Tiller suspect track doctor's court dates, McClatchy, 2009-06-03, http://www.mcclatchydc.com/256/story/69361.html, retrieved 2009-06-03
Sources
- Operation Rescue: A Challenge to the Nation's Conscience by Philip F. Lawler (1992) ISBN 0-87973-506-6
- Live From the Gates of Hell: An Insider's Look at the Antiabortion Underground by Jerry Reiter (2000) ISBN 1-57392-840-2
- "METRO DATELINES; Anti-Abortion Group Will Close Its Offices", The New York Times, December 17, 1990
- New York Times Sept 15, 2006 "Anti-Abortion Group Loses Tax Exemption" by Stephanie Strom
- Man's views change radically
- Jim Risen & Judy L. Thomas, Wrath of Angels: The American Abortion War (1998) 2001
- Clinics Prepare for Operation Rescue 1993
- CourtTV
External links
Categories:- Christian political organizations
- American pro-life organizations
- Organizations based in Wichita, Kansas
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