"Andrew Burnett made palpable the atmosphere of violence faced by doctors with his surprise admission that Burnett himself would be afraid if he were an abortion provider targeted on anti-abortion Web sites and wanted posters," Ireland said.
"Women rights advocates and health care providers must continue to bring suits against anti-abortion thugs who seek to do with force and threats of force what they have been unable to do under the law," Ireland said.
NOW was victorious in its federal abortion rights case, NOW v. Scheidler, the first such class action under the Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. The jury in that case returned a unanimous verdict: Operation Rescue, Joe Scheidler and their co-defendants are racketeers and will be liable for triple damages for all of the harm their violent acts have caused to clinics.
NOW awaits the judge's final order in the case, which is expected to include a nationwide injunction against anti-abortion extremists who terrorize women seeking health services and abortion providers.
"We will not bow to the bullies. We will continue to stand up for women's rights in Congress and state legislatures, in the courts and in the streets," said Ireland, whose name is listed on the Nuremberg Files Web site -- the controversial anti-abortion hit list that was included in the Planned Parenthood suit in Oregon.