Those committed to providing abortion services, many of whom are disappointed but understanding about the Tiller family's decision to close, vow that the killing will not deter them. And they hope that Tiller's death will inspire young doctors to replenish the shrinking (and graying) ranks of abortion providers.
"I am currently exploring every option to be able to continue to make second- and early, medically indicated third-term abortions available," said Tiller associate LeRoy Carhart in a statement. Carhart, a Nebraska physician, performed abortions at Tiller's clinic on a rotating basis with two California doctors.
Warren Hern, one of the few remaining doctors in the U.S. who perform late-term abortions, said that the closing was understandable and was "the hideous consequence of 30 years of harassment." This week, he said, he has begun to see some of Tiller's patients at his clinic in Boulder, Colo.
Among the many things that may come out of the tragedy is "the recognition that more physicians need to step up and provide abortion care," said Peter Brownlie, president of Planned Parenthood of Kansas & Mid-Missouri.
Brownlie said that with the closure of Tiller's clinic, Wichita joins the ranks of cities that have no abortion providers at all.
"There is no place between Kansas City and Denver," he said. That's a distance of more than 550 miles.
Katherine Spillar, executive vice president of the Los Angeles-based Feminist Majority Foundation, said she expected that more doctors would resolve to provide abortion services.
The closing of Tiller's clinic, she added, "was what the extremist wing of the antiabortion movement wanted. But this is not a victory for them."
And some of those foes have found themselves in a difficult position.
After Scott Roeder, 51, was arrested on suspicion of murdering Tiller, a news crew photographed a piece of paper with the name and phone number of Operation Rescue's senior policy advisor, Cheryl Sullenger, on the front seat of his car. In 1988, Sullenger and her husband were convicted of conspiring to bomb a San Diego abortion clinic. She spent two years in prison. Her past had led to questions, particularly on outlets such as Daily Kos and MSNBC: Was she connected to Roeder?
On Monday, Sullenger said that Roeder was one of many people who called her for information about the scheduling and location of Tiller's recent criminal trial.
