The tactic is certainly legal, but is it something that we want to continue? In theory, if this tactic became more widespread it could potentially allow those with the deepest pockets to more readily control what is available to the rest of us. If legal services that we have a right to obtain are run out of town because they can't find property to use, this isn't a victory for either democracy or capitalism.
On June 28, Operation Rescue bought a piece of property in Wichita, Kan., where it is based, to eventually be used as the group's new headquarters. But the spot it chose was no random parcel of land; the site had been leased to an abortion clinic since 1983.
"We found out from our realty agent that the building that housed the local abortion clinic was up for sale," Sullengberg said. "After the offer was put down for the building, the abortion clinic had indicated that they were maybe thinking of closing, and they came to us to see if they could maintain the tenancy of the building."
Unsurprisingly, Operation Rescue turned them down, she said. The clinic, Central Women's Services, left, and the land became the property of the anti-abortion group for $112,000. They plan to make part of the one-story, 2,100-square-foot site into "a memorial for the babies that died there," Sullenberg said. Operation Rescue has already been holding tours of what it says were the previous occupant's unhygienic conditions.
Source: Fox News
I wonder just how true to life those tours are?
"It's a wonderful thing," Sullenberg said. "Most abortion clinics are not wanted in their neighborhoods. Communities just don't want abortion clinics operating in their neighborhoods."
I wonder to what degree these negative feelings are over the abortion clinic itself and to what degree they are actually products of all the protests organized by groups like Operation Rescue? I must admit that I wouldn't be happy to live close to such things happening, especially given the violence that occurs, but I would blame the protesters rather than the clinic.
Not all anti-abortion activists agree with this tactic, though:
Even other anti-abortion groups expressed skepticism about how practical Operation Rescue's move could be on a larger scale.
"It's a great strategy if you can come up with the money to do it, but that would probably be a great stumbling block, because most pro-life groups are pretty close to the line and don't have much money left over, and property's expensive," Scheidler said. "I don't think you could buy them all and put them out of business that way. If there are women who still want abortions, they'll go elsewhere. The pro-life movement has to continue to sidewalk counsel, picket abortion clinics and raise public awareness about what abortion really is."
The clinic that used to occupy the Wichita property denies that they were driven out by Operation Rescue. They say that they were leaving anyway and that the property's purchase by Operation Rescue was unrelated to this. This may be true, but it's also probably true that if they weren't already leaving they would have been forced to. That's enough for people to be at least a little concerned about this tactic, even if anti-abortion groups don't have enough money to pursue it widely right now. After all, there conservatives with deep pockets and if they think that this will work, they might decide to start funding it.
Christian Right & Abortion:
This is quite legal. Since the building itself is unimportant to the business surely the clinic should be able to find other premises in most cases.
When any business is renting premises it normally has the security of the tenancy until it expires. So presumably anti-abortionists should not be able to evict the tenants unless the lease has expired. In that case if the owner wants to sell the buyer might want the clinic out for his own purposes which might have nothing to do with the activity.
I am afraid the anti-abortionists are acting legally. At least it is better than firing shots through the windows or picketing the homes of the staff.