Basso Rumblings

rhrealitycheck:

by Robin Marty

A small bomb exploded at Planned Parenthood’s Appleton North Health Center in Wisconsin, according to numerous news reports.  The Green Bay Press Gazette reports that a “small, homemade explosive device” was placed on a windowsill of the clinic at around 7:30 p.m. Sunday night, causing damage as well as small fire. 

The clinic, one of very few in the the state that provides abortions, has been a constant target of anti-choice activists, from Lila Rose attempted “undercover video ‘stings’” to Pro-Life Wisconsin’s “Empty Manger Christmas carols” and other stunts. With the amount of attention being put on the clinic, and the escalating frenzy to try and block a woman’s right to abortion, it was likely only a matter of time before a violent act happened there. 

The incident also points to a disturbing and increasing trend of clinic violence.  This would be the fourth case of incendiary devices being used as a weapon against clinics and supporters in the last eight months.  Last August, a suspect firebombed a clinic in McKinney, Texas.  On New Year’s Day, a clinic in Florida was firebombed in the early morning hours by a homeless man believed to be sympathetic to the anti-choice protesters who frequented the health center.  And just last month, a Texas state senatorknown for her Planned Parenthood advocacy had her office in Fort Worth firebombed during working hours while the office was full.

And clinic violence just in the state of Wisconsin itself has become a major issue.  Ralph Lang has been in jail since May, still awaiting trial for his alleged attempt to kill a Madison abortion doctor.

Bombing clinics is obviously becoming the favorite activity for anti-choice extremists, and for every thwarted plot like North Carolina’s Justin Moose in 2010, we’re now seeing multiple successes.

(via prolongedeyecontact)

raggedyanndy:

A small bomb exploded outside a Planned Parenthood clinic in Grand Chute, Wis., on Sunday night, and police are investigating to learn who planted the device.

According to WGBA-TV, police fire crews found the homemade explosive outside a window sill that they believe had set off a small fire, which burned out before fire crews arrived. The building sustained a small amount of damage.

The incident happened around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Calls to the police department were not answered.

Planned Parenthood has 27 health centers in Wisconsin, and three of them, including the clinic that was bombed, offer abortion services. The fire from the bomb caused minimal damage to one of the exam rooms in the clinic, which is scheduled to reopen on Tuesday, said Teri Huyck, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin.

“Our primary concern today — as always — is our patients, staff and volunteers,” Huyck said in a statement on Monday. “Women People deserve safe and compassionate care, and we are proud to provide it. Rest assured, our doors will remain open for the thousands of women people who rely on Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin each year for high quality health care.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the law enforcement agencies working with us to ensure Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin continues to be a safe and trusted health care provider,” she said.

According to the most recent statistics from the National Abortion Federation, there were 114 violent attacks against abortion providers in 2011, including three physical assaults, one bombing, one incident of arson, 27 counts of vandalism and eight burglaries.