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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 20, 1997)
j u s t o u t ▼ ju n o 2 0 . 1 9 9 7 ▼ 1 5 Fire rocks clinic I n the wee hours of May 23, fire ripped through the Lovejoy Surgicenter, a health care facility snuggled on a semi-quiet street in Northwest Portland. The center also Arson levels extensive damage on Northwest Portland’s happens to be Oregon’s largest provider of abortion services. Lovejoy Surgicenter, but work goes on undaunted Behind the building, located at 933 NW 25th ▼ Ave., sat a metal drum, which hovered near a junky-looking blue Chevrolet Citation parked by Inga Sorensen next to Lovejoy’s rear door. A hose journeyed from drum to building. beat those,” she says. “Not just one segment—all matic—but at the same time, we did not let this of us. That’s what we must do in the face of this By the time the final spark went dead, an interfere with our work.” estimated $425,000 in damage was inflicted. campaign against women. But the key is to be According to Ortman, Lovejoy did not have to Emotionally speaking, staff appeared shaken and multi-issue—to stand up for immigrants, to de cancel any of its procedures, because the facility angry—though it certainly wasn’t the first time fend women on welfare, to back those with dis was scheduled to be closed the day the fire occurred the center had shouldered the brunt of violence. abilities. We cannot afford to be single-issue.” anyway. Additionally, she says other health care Anti-abortion rights activists have long made Carye Ortman, who has been Lovejoy providers made their facilities available to Lovejoy their presence felt at Lovejoy Surgicenter, via Surgicenter’s director for the past four years, says staff so appointments could go on as planned. pickets and other protests. the show of support makes a difference. “Whoever did this must be disappointed,” she Eight years ago Lovejoy garnered $8.2 mil “Radical Women put together the march a says. lion after successfully suing Advocates for Life, an anti-abortion organization often described as ultra-extremist. The building was also set ablaze five years ago. Grants Pass resident Rachelle “Shelley” Shannon, a radical anti-abor tion activist, was eventually convicted of a slew of arsons, Lovejoy’s among them, involving health care facilities throughout the West that offer abortion services. Shannon was later sentenced to 20 years in prison. This time the attack occurred just days after bomb threats had been phoned into clinics that provide abortion ser vices in Portland, Eugene and Yakima, Wash. Again, Lovejoy was on the list. The stew of history blended with the evidence in this most recent case almost immediately led federal Bureau of Al cohol, Tobacco and Firearm officials to deem the fire an arson. The investiga tion into the person or people behind the crime continues. A few days after the fire, meanwhile, demonstrators gathered in Northwest Portland to condemn the act of aggres sion. “When the right wing attacks any group— gays and lesbians, immigrants, unions—we need to visibly stand against A view o f the dam age at Lovejoy Surgicenter that siege,” says Radical Women mem ber Marjie Sandoz, who helped orchestrate the week after the fire and even though it was down “America is facing a campaign of terror,” says demonstration, which featured an array of social pouring, 50 to 75 people were there,” she says. “It Lisa Horowitz, executive director of the Oregon ist organizations including Radical Women, So was very uplifting. Also, a great group of men chapter of the National Abortion and Reproduc cialist Action, International Socialist Organiza from CAP [Cascade AIDS Project] and Our House tive Rights Action League. tion and the Freedom Socialist Party. came over to help with clean-up...and we re According to Horowitz, attacks nationally ceived 150 faxes from other clinics across the Sandoz urges people to remember how effec against clinics that provide abortion services have country telling us to hang in there.” tive it was when various communities joined escalated in 1997 compared to 1996, which saw a together to help defeat the extremely divisive Ortman says that sense of camaraderie has decline from previous years. anti-gay rights ballot initiatives, measures 9 and been vital in helping center employees through She says she’s not exactly sure of the reasons this ordeal. “We’ve even had counselors come in 13. behind the activity, but feels it must be counter “It took the whole community to come out to to meet with staff,” she says. “It’s very trau acted—on all levels. ÜU1CH CflNbLES ■HIGH GUHim -SHOKOBi T>IHM£SS Type pe per box burn hours Table 20 6 Antique 14 9 Tealights 50 4.5 Price per box The Emperor’s House Phone (503) 235-2728 8235 SE 13th OLD SELLWOOD SQUARE PORTLAND OR 97202 “We’re seeing an upsurge in violence, and we continue to see anti-choice legislators try and tear away at women’s legal right to abortion,” says Horowitz. A handful of bills that could hinder access to abortion in Oregon have been introduced this session in the state Legislature. Among them is House Bill 3532, sponsored by Rep. Ron Sunseri (R-Gresham), which would require that a “parent, guardian or conservator of minor female be noti fied before performance of abortion, with speci fied exceptions.” The measure would punish fail ure to give notice by a maximum 30days’ impris onment, $ 1,000 fine, or both. Senate Bill 1132, sponsored by Sen. Marylin Shannon (R-Brooks), and cosponsored in part by Republican Reps. Charles Starr of Hillsboro, Sunseri, and John MinnisofWood Village, would make it a crime to “perform an unlawful partial birth abortion” punishable by imprisonment, a fine or both. Sen. Eileen Qutub (R-Beaverton), has also introduced a potpourri of bills that could chip away at access. Shannon, you may recall, is the chief sponsor of the so-called Defense of Mar riage Act, which would block same- gendercouplesfromattainingequal mar riage rights in Oregon. Shannon, Sunseri, Qutub, Starr and Minnis (among others) are known for their resistance, at best, to gay rights and their strident and effective opposition, at worst, to the acquisition of those rights. Both Sandoz and Horowitz say it’s important to note the links between those who oppose sexual minority and abor tion rights. Horowitz, meanwhile, says she doesn’t expect any of the anti-abortion rights bills to clear the Legislature this session. Despite that, she says their very ex istence poses a threat. “Abortion and abortion rights may be yesterday’s story for the media, and 1 think the public is tired of the divisive ness, but the fact remains that women’s reproductive rights are continually un der attack and we need to stand against that,” she says. Lovejoy Surgicenter is seeking donations to assist with building repair and upgrade. Those wishing to help m ay send checks to Lovejoy Surgicenter, 933 N W 25th Ave., Portland, OR 97210. Specify on the check that the money is to be used fo r that purpose. The facility also uses volunteer escorts fo r clients when necessary. For m ore information about becoming an escort, contact Karen Perry at 221-1870. SMUT! COIX! WEIRDNESS! That’s right, kids, you won’t find any books filled with big words here at CounterMedia. Too hard on the brain! 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