MSNBC: After Tiller - Center for Reproductive Rights
In a revealing segment, MSNBC’s Melissa Harris-Perry discusses efforts to limit women's access to abortion following the murder of Dr. Tiller. She features clips from Irin Carmon’s documentary, which tells Tiller’s tragic story and highlights Julie Burkhart’s efforts to reopen his Wichita clinic a year ago. Despite threats and harassment, Burkhart remains dedicated to maintaining the clinic as a vital reproductive care provider, especially for women traveling up to 200 miles for abortion services.
Strategies to Restrict Access
Kelly Baden from the Center for Reproductive Rights described tactics used by anti-abortion activists, including “clear calculated coordinated strategies” to make it difficult for physicians to operate. She emphasized that legislation requiring doctors to have hospital privileges—driven by politics rather than medical need—forces clinics to close. These privileges permit providers to treat patients with complications at nearby hospitals, a requirement often used to hinder abortion services.
Despite opposition, advocates like Burkhart continue to fight for accessible reproductive healthcare.
Author's summary: The coverage highlights ongoing struggles against legislative and political barriers that threaten women's access to abortion and reproductive health services.