National Abortion Provider Appreciation Day

Is today. [Trigger warning for violence.] March 10th was named such in 1996 following the assassination of Dr. David Gunn. I'm fairly sure you won't find a section of cards in Hallmark about it.

Dr. Gunn was murdered in 1993.
In 1993, Dr. Tiller was shot but not killed.
In 1994, Dr. John Bayard Britton and his escort, James H. Barrett, were assassinated.
In 1994, Dr. Garson Romalis was shot but not killed.
In 1995, Dr. Hugh Short was shot and killed.
In 1997, Dr. Jack Fainman was shot but not killed, the shooter was a suspect in an unnamed NY physician's murder
In 1998, Dr. Barnett Slepian is shot and killed. His murderer, James Koop, was the suspect in 1997's shooting of Dr. Fainman and the other unnamed doctor.
In 2009, Dr. Tiller was shot, again, and killed.

In 1994, Shannon Lowney and Leanne Nichols were shot and killed at clinics in MA.
In 1998, Officer Robert Sanderson was killed during a clinic bombing and nurse Emily Lyon was severely injured.

Besides assassination and attempted murder, doctors and others who work at clinics are subjected to butyric acid attacks, arson and bombing, and anthrax attacks (not to mention: harassment, intimidation, hate mail, etc...).

The National Abortion Federation has kept a record of violence (.pdf). From 1977 to 2009, there have been:

216 arsons and bombings
97 attempted arson or bombing
643 bomb threats
184 incidents of assault and battery
416 death threats
4 kidnappings
14293 incidents of hate mail or hate phone calls

There are several more categories. NAF notes:

All numbers represent incidents reported to or obtained by NAF. Actual incidents are likely much higher.

Tabulation of trespassing began in 1999 and tabulation of email harassment and hoax devices began in 2002.

Incidents recorded are those classified as such by the appropriate law enforcement agency. Incidents that were ruled inconclusive or accidental are not included.

Often at risk to themselves, abortion providers--the doctors, nurse practitioners, midwives, nurses, medical assistants, office support staff, escorts & volunteers--protect the lives and health of women by providing them with necessary medical care. There aren't many careers that would require someone to deal with sometimes constant threats and harassment.

To those who walk this path and those who will:

Thank you.