Today is the 30th anniversary of Roe versus Wade, the court case that legalized abortion and solidified the rights of pro-choice activists. Abortion has always been a controversial issue, with pro-life and pro-choice activists constantly in the heat of battle.
On some occasions, those who disagree with the court decision have taken action, as was the case with James C. Kopp, a prominent San Francisco pro-life activist who murdered abortion doctor Barnett Slepian on Oct. 23, 1998, in his Amherst home. After being arrested in France and extradited to the United States, Kopp confessed to the murder and is awaiting his trial in Buffalo early in February.
The Army of God, a radical anti-abortion group, will attend a rally today in support of Kopp at Buffalo's Womenservices Clinic, where Slepian once practiced. The mysterious group is known for extreme and violent views on abortion and homosexuality, and is connected with past bombings of various abortion clinics.
Of course, the Buffalo Police Department cannot prevent the group from attending the rally, since all people have the right to free speech. The police are, however, are taking precautions, with increased security not only at the Womenservices Clinic, but also local areas such as hospitals and gay bars, to ensure the safety of everyone that may be affected by the Army of God.
While the overall threat of the fanatical group is undetermined, the people of Buffalo should still be cautious. Members of the group are not afraid to make their views know, even if they feel they must resort to violence, as has been evidenced by their behavior in the past. The group may not have any intentions to target anything besides the rally, but with the party's infamous reputation, it is wise that the police and Buffalonians keep their eyes open.
With such high security surrounding the rally, the police and the people must not forget that there will be anti-abortion advocates who are not part of the Army of God present. Although they may not share the group's beliefs, these advocates may be mistakenly considered and treated as such by the police; these advocates should make their stance clear and separate from the views of the radical faction. The Army of God is there not only to condone abortion, but also to laud the actions of Kopp.
The Army of God in itself is a contradiction. The members of the group are not afraid to commit acts of violence, and even murder to achieve their goals, yet they claim to be extremely religious and hold God in the highest esteem. While the faction has all the constitutional rights to protest and make their opinions known, they have neither the legal nor religious justification to murder.
Early last week, as the Army of God announced their participation in the Kopp rally, an Internet message was sent out to the media stating that "forces are being deployed with the power to stop any child of God from being legally slaughtered in Buffalo." Many people feel this is a declaration of violence, while others believe this message is more of an intimidation. However, even though this "holy army" believes their actions are justified, they are clearly stating their coercive opinions against the United States, making members of the Army of God little more than terrorists.
