bombs went off within minutes of each other, destroying UlIC abortion clinic and two gynaecological clinics that also offered abortions. Pensacola clinic was comnietey gutted. had moved location after its du orice was desuroveu lia bombing last June.
One worker at the clinic pointed out: "These attacks don't only impact on abortion rights, but on the right of women to contraception ana simple nealt care.
The two men and two women bombings have admitted to ceived the had received call of god'. One of them, Matthew Goldsby, explained that he had simply chosen the 'quickest route possible to stop abortion.
Only a few days after Surgi-Center Washington. The roof of the clinic and one of its wals was destroyed. The force of Ine DesI smallereu nearly windows nearby avartmens This was the seventh bombing health clinic wolel s abortion-related facility in Washington since February 'We are outraged and angry, said Joanna Cannon, spokeswoman for Hillcrest clinic. 'We exist here legally and those who choose to express their opinions with bombings are Crillal and wrong She said the clinic would reopen SUUIE Rosann Visor no executive director Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, said, 'Abortion is legal. The service is available as an individual right and individual choice. Bombers are keeping people from exercising that right.
On 4 December the Federal Bureau of Investigation Ene were neither terrorist acts nor zoverlment. Therefore it relegated jurisdiction to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF). BATF, which is now "investigating' bombings, delivered a warning to abortion clinic operators that they should anticipate Stew wave violence on 22 January, the twein anniversar U lit legalisation of abortion.
No wanna was civen l the violent opponents of abortion rights, nor was any mention made of measures that would be taken to prevent the attacks. In fact, the government continues to insist that there is no conspiracy behind the bombings.
The government's position amounts to nothing more than a green light to those who carry out terrorist attacks against women in 'America. Far from defending the legal right to abortion, the government is leading campaign against this right.
The goal of the campaign is to make abortion illegal. This explains why the government refuses to stop the attacks, and why the bombers are able to act with such impunity.
Supporters of women's rights across the country organising meetines pickets and vigils to protes Despite the threats, abortion rights supporters held demonstrations in major cities across America on 22 January this year.
On that day in 1973, the US Supreme Court ruled mal aborgoes a wonals right. This was the most farduvalct won bi women's rights fighters in decades. . The ruling made it a law that women have the right to decide whether or not to bear children, as well as when not to have them.
control her own body is the HOSE VasIl or rights precondition for equality. This is why attacks against the right to abortion are not just directed agains women, but against the working class as a whole. • This is an edited version of article by Martin Koppel, which appeared in a recent edition Intercontinental Press. TERHATIONAL RIGHTS ABORTiON
Socialist Action 1 March 1985