The Anti-Abortion Campaign Against Dr. George Tiller

Dr. George Tiller, whose clinic in Wichita, Kansas was one of the few in the nation to perform late-term abortions, was gunned down Sunday morning as he attended services at his local church. Scott Roeder, the 51-year-old abortion opponent who police believe pulled the trigger is expected to be charged in the murder.

Dr. Tiller had been the target of anti-abortion forces for years as protesters targeted his clinic, his home and his church. In fact, Dr. Tiller and the concentrated pro-life campaign to shut down his Wichita clinic were captured for Rolling Stone in Kimberley Sevcik's 2004 feature "One Man's God Squad." The piece centered on Troy Newman, the head of Operation Rescue, and his intensified efforts in Wichita. The group's campaign was relentless, aggressive and, as Newman would point out, nonviolent, a stance he affirmed in the wake of Tiller's murder. "We are pro-life, and this act was antithetical to what we believe," Newman said.

For a look at the long-simmering battle over Dr. Tiller and his clinic, read our report, "One Man's God Squad," first published on August 19, 2004.

The letter arrived on a Tuesday in March. "Dear Sara," it read. "It is our information that you are currently an employee of Women's Health Care Services, a facility that provides abortions." It went on to suggest that Sara Phares, an administrative assistant at the clinic in Wichita, Kansas, quit her job and repent her sins. "Please know that we are praying for you," the letter concluded. It was signed "Troy Newman, President, Operation Rescue West."

A week later, hundreds of Phares' neighbors received an anonymous postcard of a mangled fetus. "This is Abortion!", read the big block letters. "Your neighbor Sara Phares participates in killing babies like these." The postcard implored them to call Phares, whose phone number and address were provided, and voice their opposition to her work at the clinic. Another card soon followed. It referred to Phares as "Miss I Help to Kill Little Babies" and suggested, in an erratic typeface that recalled a kidnapper's ransom note, that neighbors "beg her to quit, pretty please." The third postcard dispensed entirely with pleasantries: "Sara Phares is not to be trusted! Tell her to get a life!"

One Wichita resident, apparently inspired by the postcards, sent Phares letters beseeching her to quit her job at the clinic. Another neighbor, a federal agent, called her at work to express his concern. "Just be careful, ma'am," he said. "You never know what kind of nuts these things will draw."