HotSpots (Security Briefing): June 2006

Ohio 06/30/06 A bullet hole was discovered in the window of an office at a Planned Parenthood health center.

New York 06/29/06 Planned Parenthood employees discovered that a safety cone had been set against a concrete wall separating the health center from an adjacent apartment building and set on fire. Police are investigating the incident.

New York 06/27/06 A concerned citizen left a message at a Planned Parenthood health center saying that a man was using binoculars to observe the building.

Texas 06/27/06 Approximately 25 protesters prayed silently at a Planned Parenthood health center, where free HIV tests were given on National HIV Testing Day. About half of the protesters left when television crews arrived.

Virginia 06/21/06 Twelve people believed to be part of an anti-choice group stood in front of a Planned Parenthood health center, mouths covered with black tape, during a quiet protest that lasted two hours.

California 06/19/06 An unknown person trespassed into the parking lot of a Planned Parenthood health center and placed anti-choice brochures on clients' cars.

Kentucky 06/16/06 Planned Parenthood staff discovered a red, painted symbol on the sidewalk near the building where they work. The symbol was a swastika inside a circle next to an "A" with a bar across the top.

North Carolina 06/14/06 Three Planned Parenthood health centers received nuisance letters addressed to "Clinic Manager or Principal" containing cryptic religious messages. Several affiliates received similar messages in April.

California 06/13/06 Nine Planned Parenthood health centers received a letter titled, "Why Roe Verses [sic] Wade Must Stop" postmarked from Santa Clarita.

West Virginia 06/13/06 A bomb threat was received at a National Abortion Federation member clinic. A suspect was immediately identified and arrested without incident. The suspect was interrogated and confessed to making the threat.

Ohio 06/10/06 A man called a health center and stated that Planned Parenthood should be called "Planned Abortionhood." He cited several Bible verses and said that Planned Parenthood "would pay."

Maryland 06/09/06 Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested a man after he admitted to planning a bomb attack on an independent abortion clinic. The man also stated that he intended to "shoot doctors who provide abortions." A pipe bomb he constructed was found at the home of a friend, and a stolen pistol was found in the car the man was driving at the time of his arrest. The pipe bomb was detonated by bomb squad technicians and caused a small fire, but no one was injured. Police were tipped off by the man's father, who suspected that his son might be planning an attack against an abortion clinic. The man, a convicted felon who has picketed health centers in the past, has been charged with making and possessing an illegal explosive device, possessing a firearm with a previous felony conviction, and possessing a stolen firearm. He is being held without bail.

Florida 06/09/06 A Planned Parenthood health center received a phone message from a man with a low voice, who said, "Hello. You're dead. I tried."

Ohio 06/09/06 A voicemail message was received at a Planned Parenthood health center by a man who sang, "Jesus loves all the children of the world." He stated that mothers won't be able to sing this song to their children because of Planned Parenthood.

Pennsylvania 06/09/06 A woman dressed in formal clothes entered a Planned Parenthood health center and looked around the reception area and started spouting anti-choice rhetoric. Some of what she said seemed to be in another language. She was asked to leave several times before she finally left.

Alaska 06/08/06 Staff arriving at a Planned Parenthood health center found a flower arrangement against the wall of the building and a children's book with the inscription, "To my son. I miss you."

Pennsylvania 06/07/06 Three protesters stood outside a Planned Parenthood health center that is not frequently picketed, holding anti-choice signs and handing out anti-choice literature. Police reviewed the city's demonstration ordinance with the protesters, reminding them to stay away from the building and not to obstruct client access.

Pennsylvania 06/07/06 St. Mary's Catholic Church organized a "mass for the unborn," which included a procession of approximately 210 people to a Planned Parenthood health center.

Illinois 06/01/06 On arriving at a Planned Parenthood health center, an employee discovered a sticky, red substance smeared and splattered on the front door and window. The substance was determined to be non-toxic.

Published: 06.30.06 | Updated: 06.30.06



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