Operation Rescue did pretty much the same thing a while back here in Lynchburg. They came to my school (E.C. Glass) at about 7 am and started terrorizing students before 1st period. The Special Ed. kids ended up crying because the Operation Rescue goons told them they were going to hell, and they showed pictures of bloody fetuses to the girls. The OpResc folks were joined by students from Falwell-run Liberty University (where Flip Benham's kids go). They hurled all kinds of false accusations: that the school distributes free condoms (it doesn't), that it's a hotbed of drugs (well, yeah. But that's every school in the country) and sexual promiscuity (I wish). They also picketed the local Planned Parenthood, even though it doesn't perform abortions.
Their actions were widely condemned, even by Falwell himself. When Benham was sentenced to a slap-on-the-wrist sentence, all the Anti-choice fanatics descended upon Lynchburg for a week of mass protest. Now here's the best part: They *ORDERED* copies of Jock Sturges and David Hamilton books from one of the local book stores, and then had the audacity to claim that the book stores were purveyors of child pornography!
What I got a big kick out of was watching the local conservative oligarchy try to distance themselves from Operation Rescue. They like to preach fiscal conservatism and lure corporations with big fat tax-breaks, but gawd forbid they should be associated with the fringe right!
I think In These Times actually did a short piece on this a few issues back. Might be on their web site.
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