Tuesday, January 19, 2010
NAF Communications Department
202-667-5881
press@prochoice.org
Statement of Vicki Saporta, President and CEO of the National Abortion Federation (NAF):
This week, jury selection continues in the murder trial of Scott Roeder. Roeder has confessed to murdering NAF member Dr. George Tiller, and he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Like others in the extreme wing of the anti-abortion movement, Roeder believes that it is justifiable to use deadly force to stop abortion. However, his attempts to introduce a so-called "necessity defense" as justification for the crime have been denied by presiding Judge Warren Wilbert.
There is no justification for murdering doctors who provide abortion care, and attempts to use such a defense in court have been repeatedly rejected just as they were in Kansas.
In a civilized society, we cannot allow extremists to commit murder to achieve their own personal, political agendas.
We will continue to closely monitor this trial and are confident that justice will be served.
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The National Abortion Federation (NAF) is the professional association of abortion providers in the United States and Canada. Our mission is to ensure safe, legal, and accessible abortion care to promote health and justice for women. Our members include health care professionals at clinics, doctors' offices, and hospitals, who together care for more than half the women in both countries who choose abortion each year. For more information, visit our website at www.prochoice.org.
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