Violent protesting not working

On Sept. 3, former Presbyterian minister Paul Hill was put to death by lethal injection. On Sept. 3, a murderer was punished. On Sept. 3, an assassin became a hero. \nViolent abortion protesters, who kill in order to save lives, have historically avoided execution themselves. Hill, condemned for the murder of an abortion doctor and his bodyguard, was the first person put to death in the U.S. for anti-abortion violence. \nSadly, this type of violence is not terribly uncommon. Not long after the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision made abortion legal, anti-abortion extremists have used violence in an effort to stop the practice. These "protesters" have invaded, blockaded, vandalized and bombed clinics, as well as murdered and wounded abortion providers and their supporters. Paul Hill was proud of his actions, expecting a great reward in Heaven. In the name of protecting innocent lives, he destroyed two. \nMost people, regardless of their personal opinions about abortion, would agree that Paul Hill's actions were wrong. Violent protests to protest violence? Not only is that absurd, but it is ineffective. This unique type of protest affects lots of people, especially those who are actively involved in the abortion debate. \nAccording to Lucas Weeks, president of the IU Students for Life, anti-abortion violence not only negatively affects the legitimacy of the anti-abortion movement but it also perpetuates death, which is precisely what it is trying to stop. Furthermore, violent protests don't change any laws. \nAccording to www.americandaily.com, Hill said after his arrest, "I know one thing: no innocent babies are going to be killed in that clinic today." \nThere is only limited truth in Hill's statement. Technically, he is correct. No abortions were performed on July 29, 1994 at the Ladies Center in Pensacola, Fla. Two innocent people were murdered and another was injured, but there were no abortions in the clinic on that day. Yet, it doesn't take a genius to realize that there are other clinics, and there's always tomorrow. \nBut these acts of terrorism may deter women from choosing to have an abortion or encourage clinic volunteers and doctors to find new jobs. Lindsay Prater, vice president of IU's Campus for Choice is concerned that these violent acts might set an example, encouraging others to take up the violent cause. \nHill hoped to persuade others to follow in his footsteps. From within his prison cell, he urged those opposed to abortion to use whatever means necessary to "protect the unborn." Ironically, violent anti-abortion protesters can have positively affected the Pro-Choice movement by what Prater described as "garnering public sympathy for those who want to protect women's right to choose."\nWhile it remains unlikely that we will ever reach any universal agreement, violent protest certainly diminishes the likelihood that we might one day understand one another. Violence begets violence and generates fear. Fear paralyzes, making resolution impossible. We're very fortunate in America because built into the laws which govern our society is the right to peacefully protest. These laws protect protesters from violence which many countries use to extinguish such vocal dissenters. \nWhy do Americans, who have been granted this freedom, continue to use violence as a voice? Our voices are protected, and they are the only weapons capable of tearing down the invisible walls that our bullets only strengthen.