On May 31, 2009, my mentor and boss, Dr. Henry Jacobs, was tragically killed while attending a Sunday service at his church. An anti-choice extremist took his life for dedicating himself to providing safe and compassionate abortion care to women in need. The loss was heartbreaking for those of us who knew and respected him. While the intensity of that grief has lessened over the years, the threats and acts of violence against abortion providers have only continued.
Recently, I felt a familiar unease as I listened to far-right officials making callous remarks about Dr. Jacobs’ murder. One of them stated in a secretly recorded conversation, “We all agree, the murder of Henry Jacobs was bad, but am I sad he’s dead? No, I was glad that I was not the one who pulled the trigger.” This sentiment is a stark reminder that, while many anti-choice activists publicly renounce violence, their rhetoric still endangers abortion providers and patients alike.
Throughout the years, Dr. Jacobs faced relentless harassment. In the mid-’80s, his clinic was bombed, and he survived an assassination attempt in August 1993. In July 2008, his clinic was deliberately flooded, causing extensive damage and service delays. The assaults were unyielding.
Dr. Jacobs would often say, “We’re here to make people’s hopes and dreams come true,” and “Everyone needs a little help now and then.” It was a straightforward mission: to assist people in navigating their lives. Initially, it was unfathomable to me that such hostility could be directed toward someone so kind and compassionate. But I came to learn otherwise.
During my early days at a clinic in the early ’90s, we endured vandalism, including broken windows and sabotaged air conditioning during the sweltering summer months. Following Dr. Jacobs’ murder, someone erected a large wooden cross in my backyard.
As threats escalated, I began receiving death threats. Organized by a local pastor, anti-choice activists would protest outside my home, brandishing signs that threatened my life and my family. They held signs reading “Prepare to Meet Thy God” and “Where is your church?”—a reference to Dr. Jacobs’ murder at a place of worship. At one point, I was so frightened for my daughter’s safety that I had her and a friend climb the backyard fence to go to a neighbor’s house.
Regrettably, conditions have not improved over the past thirty years. In fact, violence and intimidation have surged in recent years. With a president promoting division and hate, some individuals feel emboldened by his anti-choice rhetoric. According to the National Abortion Federation, incidents of violence and disruption at clinics have reached alarming levels, with trespassing and protests at record highs.
On election night in 2016, one of Trust Women’s clinics was vandalized, which delayed care for our patients the following day. As a mother, all I wanted was to keep my daughter safe. It broke my heart to have to introduce her to law enforcement officials and to teach her an “escape plan” for when she was home alone and confronted by protesters. Her childhood innocence has been compromised.
The court case against the pastor who terrorized us concluded just last October after a lengthy seven-year battle. It’s disheartening that dedicating oneself to social justice often entails accepting the likelihood of violence and intimidation. Conversations with my daughter about her experiences have shaped her worldview, instilling in her a sense of empathy and compassion for others. Though it’s unfortunate that such bullying exists, it has only strengthened my resolve to continue this work.
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Summary:
The article reflects on the persistent threats and violence faced by abortion providers, particularly in light of the assassination of Dr. Henry Jacobs. It explores the emotional toll of these experiences on providers and their families, highlighting the implications of toxic rhetoric from political figures. Through personal anecdotes, the author emphasizes the resilience required to continue providing essential care amidst adversity.