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La violence anti-avortement est un acte de violence commis à l'encontre des personnes et organisations qui souhaitent conserver légal ou légaliser l'avortement[1]. Les manifestations de violences connues vont de la destruction de la propriété, sous forme de vandalismes, incendies criminels, bombes, ainsi que des crimes contre les personnes, parmi lesquels enlèvements, harcèlements, agressions, tentative de meurtre, et meurtre.

La plupart des violences anti-avortement sont commises aux États-Unis d'Amérique, bien que certaines aient aussi eu lieu en Australie et au Canada. G. Davidson Smith du Canadian Security Intelligence Service définit les violences anti-avortement comme des actes de terrorisme.[2]

Définition et caractéristiques modifier

Les violences anti-avortement sont des agressions qui visent spécifiquement les personnes ou les lieux qui permettent l'avortement. Ces types de violences vont du vandalisme aux incendies criminels, à la pose de bombes devant les cliniques pratiquant l'avortement, comme le fit par exemple Eric Rudolph, jusqu'aux meurtres ou tentatives de meurtres de médecins ou de personnel médical, comme le firent les assassins James Charles Kopp et Peter James Knight.

Une faible proportion de ceux qui s'opposent à l'avortement ont parfois commis des actions de violence en public, dans le but de réaliser leur objectif qui est d'empêcher la fin d'une grossesse. Ceux qui s'engagent ou supportent ce type d'actions défendent le droit de recourir à la force - en tant qu'"homicide justifiable" ou "défense du prochain" - afin de "sauver la vie du foetus".[3]

Incidence modifier

Incidences aux États-Unis d'Amérique modifier

Meurtres modifier

Aux USA, les violences à l'encontre des défenseurs de l'avortement ont fait au moins 7 victimes, dont 3 docteurs, 2 employés de cliniques, un garde de sécurité, et un ambulancier.[4]

  • 10 mars 1993: le Dr. David Gunn de Pensacola en Floride fut abattu au cours d'une manifestation. Il était l'objet d'un avis de recherche distribué par Operation Rescue au cours de l'année précédente. Michael F. Griffin fut jugé et déclaré coupable du meurtre du docteur Gunn, et fut condamné à la prison à perpétuité.
  • 29 juin 1994: le Dr. John Britton et James Barrett, ambulancier, furent tous deux abattus dans la ville de Pensacola. Le révérend Paul Jennings Hill fut condamné pour ces meurtres à la peine de mort, et fut exécuté le 3 septembre 2003.
  • 30 décembre 1994: Deux réceptionnistes, Shannon Lowney et Lee Ann Nichols, furent tuées dans deux attaques de cliniques à Brookline dans le Massachusetts. John Salvi, qui distribuait des tracts pour Human Life International avant son arrestation[5], fut arrêté et avoua les meurtres. Il se suicide en prison et les gardiens retrouvent son corps sous son lit, avec un sac plastique enroulé autour de sa tête. Salvi a aussi avoué un attaque non mortelle à Norfolk en Virginie, quelques jours avant les meurtres de Brookline.
  • 29 janvier 1998: Robert Sanderson, officier de police travaillant comme agent de sécurité dans une clinique de Birmingham en Alabama, est tué dans l'attentat à la bombe contre son lieu de travail. L'auteur du crime, Eric Robert Rudolph, qui fut aussi reconnu responsable d'une attaque à la bombe en 1996, fut condamné pour son crime à deux peines de prison à perpétuité.
  • 23 octobre 1998: le Dr. Barnett Slepian fut abattu à son domicile à Amherst dans l'État de New York. Ce fut la dernière victime d'une série d'assassinats au Canada et aux États-Unis commis par James Kopp. Ce dernier fut condamné pour le meurtre du Dr. Slepian après avoir été arrêté en France en 2001.

Un quatrième docteur, George Patterson, fut tué par balles à Mobile en Alabama le 21 août 1993, mais le procès n'a pas pu permettre de déterminer si sa mort était le résultat de sa profession ou s'il s'agissait d'un crime crapuleux.[6]

Attempted murder, assault, and threats modifier

According to statistics gathered by the National Abortion Federation (NAF), an organization of abortion providers, since 1977 in the United States and Canada, there have been 17 attempted murders, 383 death threats, 153 incidents of assault or battery, and 3 kidnappings committed against abortion providers.[7] The attempted murders were:[8][9][4]

  • August 19, 1993: Dr. George Tiller was shot outside of an abortion facility in Wichita, Kansas. Shelley Shannon was charged with the crime and received an 11-year prison sentence.
  • June 29, 1994: June Barret was shot in the same attack which claimed the lives of James Barrett, her husband, and Dr. John Britton.
  • December 30, 1994: Five individuals were wounded in the same-day shootings which killed Shannon Lowney and Lee Ann Nichols.
  • December 18, 1996: Dr. Calvin Jackson of New Orleans, Louisiana was stabbed 15 times, losing 4 pints of blood. Donald Cooper was charged with second-degree attempted murder and sentenced to 20 years.[10]
  • October 28, 1997: A physician whose name has not been revealed was shot in his home in Rochester, New York.
  • January 29, 1998: Emily Lyons, a nurse, was severely injured in the bombing which also killed Robert Sanderson.
Anthrax threats modifier

The first letters claiming to contain anthrax were mailed to U.S. clinics in October 1998, a few days after the Slepian shooting, and since then, there have been a total of 655 such bioterror threats made against abortion providers. None of the "anthrax" in these cases was real.[11][8]

  • November 2001: After the genuine 2001 anthrax attacks, Clayton Waagner mailed hoax letters containing a white powder to 554 clinics. Waagner was convicted of 51 charges relating to the anthrax scare on December 3, 2003.

Arson, bombing, and property crime modifier

According to NAF, since 1977 in the United States and Canada, property crimes committed against abortion providers have included 41 bombings, 173 arsons, 91 attempted bombings or arsons, 619 bomb threats, 1630 incidents of trespassing, 1264 incidents of vandalism, and 100 attacks with butyric acid ("stink bombs").[7] The first clinic arson occurred in Oregon in March 1976 and the first bombing occurred in February 1978 in Ohio.[12] More recent incidents have included:[4]

  • December 25, 1984: An abortion clinic and two physicians' offices in Pensacola, Florida were bombed in the early morning of Christmas Day by a quartet of young people (Matt Goldsby, Jimmy Simmons, Kathy Simmons, Kaye Wiggins) who later called the bombings "a gift to Jesus on his birthday."[13]
  • October 1999: Martin Uphoff set fire to a Planned Parenthood clinic in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, causing US$100 worth of damage. He was later sentenced to 60 months in prison.[14]
  • May 28, 2000: An arson at a clinic in Concord, New Hampshire on resulted in damage estimated at US$20,000. The case remains unsolved.[15]
  • September 30, 2000: A Catholic priest drove his car into the Northern Illinois Health Clinic after learning that the FDA had approved the drug RU-486. He pulled out an ax before being shot at by a security guard.[16]
  • June 11, 2001: An unsolved bombing at a clinic in Tacoma, Washington destroyed a wall, resulting in US$6000 in damages. [14]
  • July 4, 2005: A clinic Palm Beach, Florida was the target of an arson. The case remains open.[14]
  • December 12, 2005: Patricia Hughes and Jeremy Dunahoe threw a Molotov cocktail at a clinic in Shreveport, Louisiana. The device missed the building and no damage was caused. In August 2006, Hughes was sentenced to six years in prison, and Dunahoe to one year. Hughes claimed the bomb was a “memorial lamp” for an abortion she had had there. [17]
  • September 13, 2006 David McMenemy of Rochester Hills, Michigan crashed his car into the Edgerton Women's Care Center in Davenport, Iowa. He then doused the lobby in gasoline and then started a fire. McMenemy committed these acts in the belief that the center was performing abortions, however Edgerton is not an abortion clinc.[18]
  • April 25, 2007: A package left at a women's health clinic in Austin, Texas contained an explosive device capable of inflicting serious injury or death. A bomb squad detonated the device after evacuating the building. Paul Ross Evans (who had a criminal record for armed robbery and theft) was found guilty of the crime. [19]
  • May 9, 2007: An unidentified person deliberately set fire to a Planned Parenthood clinic in Virginia Beach, Virginia.[20]
  • December 6, 2007: Chad Altman and Sergio Baca were arrested for the arson of Dr. Curtis Boyd's clinic in Albuquerque. Altman’s girlfriend had scheduled an appointment for an abortion at the clinic. [21]
  • January 22, 2009 Matthew L. Derosia, 32, who was reported to have had a history of mental illness [22]rammed a SUV into the front entrance of a Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Paul, Minnesota.[23]

Incidents in Canada modifier

Attempted murder modifier

Violence has also occurred in Canada, where three doctors have been attacked to date. There is speculation that the timing of the shootings is related to the Canadian observance of Remembrance Day. The physicians were part of pattern of attacks, which targeted providers in Canada and upstate New York, including Dr. Barnett Slepian. All victims were shot in their homes with a rifle, at dusk, in late October or early November. James Kopp was charged with the murder of Dr. Slepian and the attempted murder of Dr. Short; he is suspected of having committed the other shootings as well.[8][9]

Bombing and property damage modifier

  • February 25, 1990: Two men broke into a clinic in Vancouver and destroyed $C30,000 worth of medical equipment with crowbars.[25]
  • May 18, 1992: A Toronto, Ontario clinic operated by Henry Morgentaler was firebombed, causing the entire front wall of the building to collapse.[26]

Incidents in Australia modifier

  • July 16, 2001: Steven Rogers, a security guard at a clinic in Melbourne, Australia was shot in the face and killed by Peter James Knight. Knight was charged and was sentenced to life in prison on November 19, 2002.[27]
  • January 6, 2009: A firebombing using Molotov cocktails was attempted at a medical clinic in Mosman Park, Western Australia. Faulty construction of the bombs limited damage to a single external burnt area, though if successful damage would have been severe. It is believed that the inviduals who made the attack were responsible for graffiti "baby killers" on the site, indicating a political (and thus terroristic) reason for the attack. The site turned out to in fact not be an abortion clinic, though the attackers most likely were not aware of this.[28]


Support of anti-abortion violence modifier

Some organisations in the United States which oppose abortion either explicitly or implicitly advocate violence against abortion providers in contrast with the majority of the pro-life movement. Two such organizations are The Army of God, an underground network of activists who believe that the use of violence is an appropriate tool for fighting against abortion, and the American Coalition of Life Activists, who published the Nuremberg Files.

The Nuremberg Files was a controversial anti-abortion web site which published the names, home addresses, telephone numbers, and other personal information of abortion providers — highlighting the names of those who had been wounded and striking out those of which had been killed. The site was accused of being a thinly-veiled hit list intended to incite violence; others claimed that it was protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.[29] A 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision finally shut the site down in 2002 after a prolonged debate.

In August 1982, three men identifying as the Army of God kidnapped for eight days Hector Zevallos (a doctor and clinic owner) and his wife, Josalee Jean.[30] In 1993, law enforcement officials found the Army of God Manual, a tactical guide to arson, chemical attacks, invasions, and bombings.[30] The Army of God justified the actions of Paul Jennings Hill on the grounds that "whatever force is legitimate to defend the life of a born child is legitimate to defend the life of an unborn child... if in fact Paul Hill did kill or wound abortionist John Britton, and accomplices James Barrett and Mrs. Barrett, his actions are morally justified if they were necessary for the purpose of defending innocent human life".[8]

Reactions to anti-abortion violence modifier

Pro-life reactions to anti-abortion violence modifier

Nearly all mainstream pro-life organizations reject violence as a form of opposition to abortion.[8] Advocates of force tend to be small groups or lone individuals.[8] Pro-life activism generally consists of activism such as picketing, vigils, and "sidewalk counseling" outside abortion clinics. Some governments have responded to such activities with laws that protect access to abortion, particularly the creation of buffer zones where protesters are not permitted to approach those entering or exiting facilities providing abortion.

In response to incidents of anti-abortion violence, many groups in the pro-life movement have sought to isolate themselves from violent factions in a number of ways. Many pro-life advocates have vocally condemned violent actions against abortion providers as running contrary to the values and goals of the right-to-life cause.[31] Following the 1998 bombing of a clinic in Birmingham, Alabama, Feminists for Life offered a reward for the arrest and conviction of those responsible.[32] In 2001, Priests for Life, a group of pro-life Catholics in the United States, put in place a $50,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of fugitives wanted in connection with violence against abortion providers.[33] The American Life League issued a "Pro-life Proclamation Against Violence" in 2006.[34] Joseph Scheidler of the Pro-Life Action League has a chapter in his book called "Violence: Why It Won't Work." [35] Other pro-life groups to take a stand against violence include Center for Bio-Ethical Reform and Pro-Lifers Against Clinic Violence.

A few pro-life leaders have qualified their condemnation of anti-abortion violence by suggesting that the harm created by pro-life crime is small in comparison to the harms committed by abortion providers.[réf. nécessaire] Joseph Scheidler observed that "for the sake of proper perspective" he wanted to note that "no amount of damage to real estate can equal the violence of taking a single human life" through abortion.[36] David C. Nice, of the University of Georgia, contextualizes this support for violence as a political weapon against women's rights, one that is associated with tolerance for violence toward women.[37]

Pro-choice reactions to anti-abortion violence modifier

Pro-choice organizations have responded to anti-abortion violence by lobbying to protect access to abortion clinics. The National Abortion Federation and the Feminist Majority Foundation collect statistics on incidents of anti-abortion violence. The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act was passed in 1994 to protect reproductive health service facilities and their staff and patients from violent threats, assault, vandalism, and blockade.[38] State, provincial, and local governments have also passed similar laws designed to afford legal protection of access to abortion in the United States and Canada.

One form that this legislation can take is in the creation of a "buffer zone" around an abortion clinic or around the home of someone who works there; pro-life demonstration is limited to a specific distance from the building or prohibited altogether. In the U.S., three states — Colorado, Massachusetts, and Montana have passed "buffer zone" laws — and, in Canada, the province of British Columbia has enacted The Access to Abortion Services Act.

Violences anti-avortement dans la culture populaire modifier

Littérature modifier

  • The Fourth Procedure est un roman publié en 1995 par Stanley Pottinger. Il s'agit d'un thriller médical qui met en lumière les violences anti-avortement dans leur contexte, à savoir l'histoire de deux hommes responsables d'un attentat à la bombe contre une clinique pratiquant l'avortement.[39]
  • Insomnia de Stephen King évoque la violence des militants pro-life et leur opposition aux discours pro-choix qui se tiennent dans leur ville. Le groupe de militants assassine plusieurs femmes qu'ils pensent être en faveur de l'avortement, et essayent d'assassiner le porte parole des pro-choix. Ils justifient leurs actions par une théorie conspirationniste qui voudrait que le porte-parole appartienne à une société secrète qui massacrerait des innocents.

Cinéma modifier

  • Palindromes, film de Todd Solondz sorti en 2004, il met en lumière le meurtre à son domicile d'un docteur pratiquant l'avortement.

Musique modifier

Voir aussi modifier

Références modifier

  1. ↑ (en) Jelen, Ted G. (1998). Abortion. In Encyclopedia of Religion and Society. Walnut Creek, California: AltaMira Press.
  2. ↑ Smith, G. Davidson (Tim). Canadian Security Intelligence Service. (1998). Single Issue Terrorism. Commentary. Retrieved June 9, 2006.
  3. ↑ O'Keefe, Mark. (January 24, 1999). "Anarchy in the name of God." The Oregonian. Retrieved June 9, 2006.
  4. ↑ a b et c NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation. (2006). Clinic violence and intimidation. Retrieved April 13, 2006.
  5. ↑ Berlet, Chip. "Clinic Violence, The Religious Right, Scapegoating, Armed Militias, & the Freemason Conspiracy," The Body Politic, Vol. 5, No. 2 February 1995.
  6. ↑ Crow, Karen. (August 19, 2005). A Violent Week in August. Choice! Magazine. Retrieved January 25, 2007.
  7. ↑ a et b National Abortion Federation. (2005). Incidence of Violence & Disruption Against Abortion Providers in the U.S. & Canada. Retrieved April 13, 2006.
  8. ↑ a b c d e et f Robinson, B.A. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. (November 9, 2004). "Violence & Harassment at U.S. Abortion Clinics. Retrieved April 13, 2006.
  9. ↑ a et b National Abortion Federation. (2006). Clinic Violence: History of Violence. Retrieved April 13, 2006.
  10. ↑ Loewentheil, Kara. (December 21, 2004). Donald Cooper's Day of Violence. Choice! Magazine. Retrieved January 25, 2007.
  11. ↑ National Abortion Federation. (2007). Anthrax Attacks." Retrieved February 10, 2007.
  12. ↑ National Abortion Federation. (2007). "Arsons and Bombings." Retrieved February 10, 2007.
  13. ↑ Christmas abortion bombings at Pensacola wiki]
  14. ↑ a b et c National Abortion Federation (no date). History of Violence/Extreme Violence. [1]
  15. ↑ Daley, B.(2000, May 30). The Boston Globe. “Abortion Clinic Fire ‘Suspicious’: Women’s Health Center Has Been Target Of Past Protests, Vandalism” Lexis Nexis Academic Universe. Retrieved March 26, 2009
  16. ↑ (en) « Axe-wielding priest attacks abortion clinic », CNN, (consulté le )
  17. ↑ Feminist Wire. July 13, 2006. Louisiana Clinic Bomber Pleads Guilty. Daily Newsbriefs. [2] Retrieved March 26, 2009
  18. ↑ (en) « Man Crashes Into Davenport Health Clinic », KWQC, (consulté le )
  19. ↑ Intelligence Report. Fall 2007. Anti-Abortion Violence. [3] Retrieved March 26, 2009
  20. ↑ "Planned Parenthood Arson." (May 12, 2007). WKTR.com. Retrieved May 14, 2007.
  21. ↑ KOAT.com (ABC affiliate). December 27, 2007. Suspects In Abortion Clinic Fire Plead Not Guilty [4] Retrieved March 26, 2009
  22. ↑ "[5]"
  23. ↑ "Man charged with driving into Planned Parenthood facility." (January 23, 2009). "Minneapolis Star-Tribune." Retrieved January 27, 2009.
  24. ↑ Canada abortion doctor stabbed." (July 13, 2000). BBC News. Retrieved April 13, 2006.
  25. ↑ Diemer, Ulli. (May 1990). News Briefs. Connexions Digest. Retrieved February 11, 2007.
  26. ↑ Bagley, Gordon. (1992). Bombing of Toronto abortion clinic raises stakes in bitter debate. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 147(10), 1528–1533. Retrieved February 10, 2007.
  27. ↑ "Australian abortion clinic guard killed." (July 16, 2001). BBC News. Retrieved April 13, 2006.
  28. ↑ "arsonists attack mosman park clinic." (July 16, 2001). BBC News. Retrieved April 13, 2006.
  29. ↑ Clarkson, Frederick. (May 31, 2001). Journalists or terrorists?. Salon.com. Retrieved April 13, 2006.
  30. ↑ a et b Baird-Windle, Patricia & Bader, Eleanor J. (2001). Targets of Hatred: Anti-Abortion Terrorism. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-23925-4.
  31. ↑ Wallace, James M. (October 11, 1998). "Anti-abortion violence negates pro-life goals." News & Record. Retrieved February 10, 2007.
  32. ↑ Toalston, Art. (January 30, 1998). "Fatal abortion clinic bombing condemned by pro-life leaders." BP News. Retrieved February 6, 2007.
  33. ↑ Eckstrom, Kevin. (2001). "Priests for Life Offers $50,000 Reward for Clinic Shooters." Beliefnet. Retrieved February 6, 2007.
  34. ↑ American Life League. (n.d.). Pro-life proclamation against violence. Retrieved April 13, 2006.
  35. ↑ Scheidler, Joseph M. (1993). "Chapter 81: Violence: Why It Won't Work" Closed: 99 Ways To Stop Abortion Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  36. ↑ Scheidler, Joseph M. (1993). "Chapter 81: Violence: Why It Won't Work" Closed: 99 Ways To Stop Abortion Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  37. ↑ David C. Nice, « Abortion Clinic Bombings as Political Violence », American Journal of Political Science, vol. 32, no 1,‎ , p. 178–195 (DOI 10.2307/2111316, lire en ligne, consulté le )
  38. ↑ « Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE) FAQ », (consulté le )
  39. ↑ Braille Library. (September 1999). Narrated by David Hartley Margolin. Retrieved February 10, 2007.
  40. ↑ Manson, Marilyn. (May 28, 1999). Columbine: Whose Fault Is It?. Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 10, 2007.
  41. ↑ Goldberg, Michelle. (November 17, 1999). Sharps & Flats. Salon.com. Retrieved February 10, 2007.

Liens externes modifier

Catégorie:Avortement Catégorie:Droit des femmes

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