Right Wing Zealots Stop Planned Parenthood Clinic In Austin, TX !!!

[WillyT]

<snip>

On November 10, Sidney Blumenthal, former assistant and senior adviser to Bill Clinton and author of "The Clinton Wars," addressed the Public Affairs luncheon of the embattled Planned Parenthood chapter of Austin, Texas.

A week before, on November 4, the Browning Construction Company abandoned its work building a $6.2 million Planned Parenthood clinic in Austin, as a result of a pressure campaign mounted by the religious right . The new clinic would provide gynecological services, AIDS testing, vasectomies, cancer screening, contraceptives, and abortion services. But Texas Right to Life and the Texas Contractors and Suppliers for Life Association, backed by right-wing Christian radio stations, intimidated contractors, plumbers and even drywall installers. One contractor received 1,200 phone calls. "God does not want this thing built," said a conservative leader.

<snip>

From: http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/03/11/con03352.html

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And this:

<snip>

AUSTIN, Texas - (KRT) - First, it was the concrete suppliers. Then, a wavering plumber. Finally, amid a barrage of phone calls from anti-abortion activists, the general contractor for the new Planned Parenthood clinic in Austin, Texas, called it quits.

Their rush for the exits marks a new strategy in the abortion protest movement, activists on both sides say: Instead of calling their congressmen or waving picket signs, abortion opponents in Texas and across the nation dialed up companies working on the clinic, asked them to pull out, and vowed to boycott them if they did not.

One by one, they quit - and are still quitting. On Friday, more than a week after Browning Construction pulled out as the general contractor and work ground to a halt, the activists claimed another success when the last visible contractor presence vanished.

Williams Scotsman, a national portable building company, removed its trailer, and National Rent-A-Fence took down its signs (but left the fence) after protesters bombarded their phone lines, company representatives and Planned Parenthood officials said.

``Calls were coming in from all over the United States,'' said Glenda Parks, director of the Austin-area Planned Parenthood. ``It just spread and spread.''

<snip>

From: http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/nation/7272111.htm

Compassionate Conservatism, My Ass!!!

:grr::nuke::mad:

[Ninga]

1. When I read such crap

I get upset and want to do something to remedy it. Should we contact the contractors and other trades? Texas, the home of asassin LBJ, and other fringe wackos.

[veganwitch]

8. i say give it back to mexico

we stole it anyway.

[TexasMexican]

15. ...

Lets give back the East Coast to the UK.

We stole it anyways. :eyes:

[sujan]

2. This happened in Austin?

Is there any hope for rest of the great state of Texas?

[ComerPerro]

3. Well, the thing you are forgetting

about "Compassionate Conservative" is one crucial detail. Its interesting, but its a common truth about all conservatives I have met.

Conservatives are some of the most compassionate people around: AS LONG as you look like them, talk like them, dress like them, have their interests, worship their God, and know them personally.

Everyone else, it would seem, can go fuck themselves.

[KamaAina]

4. RICO: It's not just a guy who used to play for the Red Sox.

But Texas Right to Life and the Texas Contractors and Suppliers for Life Association, backed by right-wing Christian radio stations, intimidated contractors, plumbers and even drywall installers. One contractor received 1,200 phone calls.

They're not allowed to do that. A pattern of repreated harassment (i.e. 1200 phone calls) could get 'em tagged as racketeers. At least, if DoJ weren't also run by a fundie zealot, it could...

[veganwitch]

7. i thought RICO only effects inter-state trade

unless the supplies came from outside the state.

assholes delayed the building of a planned parenthood in bettendorf for two years. but it got built.

and before PP opened their doors there was already plans for a "family choice clinic" across the street (this is in a cal-du-sac created from some land that was purchased from a wealthy business man in iowa).

[mobuto]

14. Moreover

there is an active agreement between virtually every major contractor in the area not to do business with Planned Parenthood.

Now I'm not a lawyer, but that certainly sounds to this layman awful like a conspiracy in restraint of trade.

[knight_of_the_star]

20. Not a lawyer yet

But that sounds like conspiracy plus extortion and probably a few other things I don't know about. Anyone got a link handy for the Texas Civil Code?

[Occulus]

5. I'd like to point out

that althought these people are saying they only are against women having a right to an abortion, they're anti-choice in a number of other areas, among them the right of a business owner to take or refuse clients as desired, especially in a business such as construction (their calendar may be very full or very empty, for example). Not only that, but they are denying the community a viable facility once PP has left the building- something which would be converted to a great many other things.

These people are anti-choice in a number of areas, it would seem. They are as anti-american and unpatriotic as one can get.

edit: KamaAina, you're right. This is racketeering, I believe.

[E_Zapata]

6. Then PPA should do their own contracting - women contractors!

Seriously.......

make a call to arms to all women in this country to come and build that building brick by brick,

There are more than a few women who can contract for the materials...and get the job done.

Women can come from all over the country.......be given host homes to stay at......while they worked.

Wouldn't that be the most incredible thing in the world for WOMEN to say FUCK YOU FASCIST PIGS.........we are building this for our sisters!!!!!!

[WillyT]

9. Hey, That's One GREAT Idea !!!

:bounce::toast::bounce:

[E_Zapata]

16. Thanks. I sent a letter off to PPA --

To the national headquarters. If anyone knows any email addresses or has contact with a local Texas chapter......please copy this and send it on to them. I would LOVE to run on down to Texas for 6 mos or a year and stand up to the oppressive bastards and build that building myself!

Dear PPA:

I just got wind of the contractor issues for the construction of your new facility in Austin, Texas. I am incredulous. But more than incredulous, I feel quite indignant against the wave of oppressive fundamentalistism that is impacting the inalienable rights of women.

I have a solution to the contractor problems that I believe will send a distinct empowered message to the people of this country -- both to the political fundamentalists, but also to the women of this country.

We should build the facility ourselves. There are countless women across this nation who would rise to the call for action. I know I would. And it would hopefully rally all women to stand together and to stand tall in the face of the backlash against us. A defining moment -- that is long past due.

I envision women from all over coming to work and to be housed and fed by host families in the Austin area. I also envision major support throughout the country - both in spirit and money contributions to pay the additional costs. We can't get a fair hearing in a court of law or in Congress or through the department of justice or the executive office. We only have ourselves, and our rights and freedoms are being destroyed on a daily basis. If we can just stand strong and say, "NO MORE", I think we could turn the tide.

Please forward this letter to the president of the organization and also to someone in charge in Texas (I couldn't find an email address for a Texas chapter).

signed,
(name)

PS: By the way, I lived in Austin, Texas from 1986 through just about the end of the rein of the beloved Ann Richards. I am astounded that anything like this could happen in Austin. Just astounded.

[WillyT]

18. Great Letter, E_Z !!! --- I Will Definitely Pass It Along !!!

And I too, am totally astounded at this crap, in this day and age.

I wonder just how radicalized and underground some of the right will go if they lose the White House and the Congress. It just could make the militia movement look like a Boy Scouts Jamboree.

This 'culture war' is the new Civil War. Or is it the same Civil War?

:shrug:

[E_Zapata]

21. Great, thanks for passing it along to someone, anyone.......

I think it would be a GREAT moment for our country.......if we just set to laboring on our own in spite of the backlash. Like sitting at the coffee counter or the front of the bus, I think

Same civil war? I don't know what the heck this is we are fighting in this country. But the word FEAR seems to come to mind.

[NashVegas]

10. Agreed

If it can be proven these contractors were extorted to cease work, I'm all for hauling all involved into court. Otherwise, if they are genuinely stopping out of their beliefs (which I doubt anyway) that's their right.

[E_Zapata]

11. If it was for their 'beliefs' why did they sign LEGAL CONTRACTS.......

they sure the heck didn't go in there without having signed contracts.

This is NOT about 'beliefs' - this is about oppression.

[E_Zapata]

12. screw the courts.......let's beat them with our spirits, and our sweat

and our labor!

[maveric]

13. Planned Parenthood is not an "abortion factory" where they lure..

young women in, to corrupt their minds and souls and kill their fetuses.
My experience with a young woman, years ago, was that of explaining the options to the woman and keeping the abortion option as a last resort, as well as offering the other services that you mentioned in your thread.

When will these morons get it?

[TexasMexican]

17. Contracts?

Did the construction firm break a contract? Did the suppliers?

If the suppliers didnt have a contract and the construction firm did, then the construction firm is wrong in backing out. They should have just imported the stuff from further out if no one nearby wanted to supply them.

[The Backlash Cometh]

22. There is definitely a breach of contract. The contractor would

probably have to file criminal charges against the right-wingers in order to escape liability.

That's just a start. I've mentioned RICO before, but there is also a law that developers use against small-time activists that has to do with business interference.

I'm sure Planned Parenthood is looking into their options.

[knight_of_the_star]

19. Ummm...

Doesn't that violate so many RICO statues? Considering this happened in Texas, the people who orchestrated the whole thing are unlikely to even get anything other than a not guilty verdict.