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Barnett Slepian was a devoted doctor.   Despite repeated threats against his life, he continued to provide his patients with the full range of reproductive health services -- he performed abortions, he dispensed contraceptives, and he delivered lots of babies.  As we mourn Dr. Slepian's death, we also celebrate his life and the example of bravery and commitment he set when he faced down anti-abortion terrorists day-in and day-out -- at work and at home.

We must continue to face cowardice with courage and violence with peaceful protest.  We must do so, not only for ourselves, but to honor those who have lost their lives defending our rights, and to support the heroic women and men who continue to put their own safety at risk to ensure that abortion is accessible.

Today, we stand in solidarity with abortion providers, clinic staff and patients, and abortion rights activists who continue to stand up to the radical right-wing extortionists at women's clinics across the country.  Although it pales next to the courage of those who put their lives on the line every day to assure our reproductive freedom, it does take courage for all of you to be here -- for abortion rights supporters to stand here and protest in the face of such rampant violence.

After all, standing here at the U.S. Capitol, we are on hostile ground.  The vitriolic rhetoric of anti-abortion leaders in and out of Congress has created an environment in which hate and violence can and does flourish.   Take Trent Lott, Newt Gingrich and their conservative cronies – their no-holds-barred attacks against reproductive rights and lesbian and gay rights, coupled with their refusal to take serious action against the purveyors of hate, have put our freedom and our lives at risk.
 
We must continue to stand-up to the anti-abortion thugs.  We must face them at the clinics and in Congress and state legislatures throughout the nation.  And, in honor of Barnett Slepian and his family, every one of us must go out next Tuesday and vote for candidates who support abortion rights and who will help us put an end to this reign of terror.

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