Outrageous, irresponsible and dangerous — it's the only way I can describe comments by State Representative JoAnn Windholz about the November 27 Planned Parenthood shootings in Colorado Springs, Colorado, when she said:
"The true instigator of this violence and all violence at any Planned Parenthood facility is Planned Parenthood themselves."
I was born in Colorado Springs and live in Denver — about 20 miles closer to Colorado Springs than Rep. Windholz does. For 25 years, I have supported Planned Parenthood and fought for a woman's right to make her own healthcare and family planning decisions.
I've seen Pro-Choice women threatened with murder and rape online for their viewpoints. I've watched violent men punch and kick peaceful activists at the 2004 March for Women's Lives in Washington, DC. And I mourned the loss of Dr. George Tiller who was gunned down by a violent extremist at a church in Wichita, KS, near where I grew up.
Words matter and rhetoric like this has already caused violence and harassment. As anti-abortion extremists ramped up their rhetoric with misleading and inaccurate attacks on Planned Parenthood, violence against women's health providers has escalated.
With her comments, Windholz threatens to encourage and validate murder and terror by other violent extremists. Will you help me hold her accountable for her inflammatory rhetoric?
Speak out against elected officials who incite violence — demand State Representative JoAnn Windholz's resignation.
Rep. Windholz,
Your comments regarding the Nov. 27 shootings at a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood facility were extremely irresponsible and potentially dangerous, and I call on you to resign.
As an elected official, you should know that words matter. Your comments regarding the shootings in Colorado Springs threaten to encourage and validate murder and terror by other violent extremists by suggesting that:
"The true instigator of this violence and all violence at any Planned Parenthood facility is Planned Parenthood themselves."
In just a few short months, such rhetoric following the release of the widely debunked videos from the Center for Medical Progress has increased violence against women's health providers. In fact, the Colorado Springs shooter even made use of wording commonly used in the group's attacks on Planned Parenthood when he was arrested.
Your irresponsible comments betray the public trust and threaten the safety of communities across Colorado. You must resign.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Update #28 years ago
This Tuesday, January 26th, we will rally on the steps of the Colorado State Capitol building and then deliver the petition directly to Rep. Windholz. Find out more and RSVP here: http://on.fb.me/23k59DI And don't forget to invite your friends!
Update #18 years ago
Colorado State Representative JoAnne Windholz's comments about the Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood shooting were so outrageous that it has inspired the creation of a campaign committee to recall Windholz.
You can support the committee's efforts by sharing this petition with your friends, liking their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/RecallJoAnnWindholz), and visiting http://recalljoannwindholz.com/
