Clinic Violence and Intimidation

A campaign of violence, vandalism, and intimidation is endangering providers and patients and curtailing the availability of abortion services.

Since 1993, seven clinic workers - including three doctors, two clinic employees, a clinic escort, and a security guard - have been murdered in the United States.
Seventeen attempted murders have also occurred since 1991.
In fact, opponents of choice have directed more than 4,200 reported acts of violence against abortion providers since 1977, including bombings, arsons, death threats, kidnappings, and assaults, as well as more than 92,000 reported acts of disruption, including bomb threats and harassing calls.

In response to this coordinated campaign of violence, pro-choice lawmakers passed state and federal laws to protect women and doctors:

The 1994 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act makes violence against patients or providers a federal crime.
Sixteen states and the District of Columbia have laws that protect health-care facilities from blockades, harassment, and other violence.