California Abortion Clinics Appear Targets Of Arson Four Clinics Have Been Damaged By Fires In This Month

Charred furniture lies in a heap near the boarded-up entrance to the town’s Planned Parenthood office. Fliers stapled to a wooden railing declare: “We will always maintain our right to choose.”

The clinic in this tranquil town is the fourth abortion provider on the California coast to be burned by an arsonist in the last two weeks.

“Most of us are in a state of shock,” said the Rev. Randy Nash. “A lot of us moved here because it’s a nice little sleepy town and a good place to raise kids. We’re saying, `Hey. We came here to get away from that.”’

The fire at the San Luis Obispo clinic broke out in the early-morning hours of Feb. 15. It caused thousands of dollars in damage and forced the clinic to move to a one-room office across town.

Tires were used to start a Feb. 12 fire in Santa Barbara, about 90 miles south of San Luis Obispo, where a doctor’s office in which abortions are performed sustained minor damage. The same method was used to start a Feb. 9 fire that caused $1,000 in damage to the Family Planning Associates Medical Group clinic in Ventura, about 20 miles southeast of Santa Barbara.

Authorities believe an arson attempt was made Tuesday about 150 miles north of San Luis Obispo. Three lighted road flares caused minor damage when they were thrown on the roof of Choice Medical Clinic in Soquel.

Federal investigators are reluctant to say the fires are related.

“It’s foolish to make too many assumptions,” said Larry Cornelison of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in Los Angeles. “But it would be hasty on our part to say they’re not” connected.

Carlyn Christianson, director of the San Luis Obispo clinic, said she didn’t know if the fires were part of a concerted effort to shut down California abortion clinics.

But she saw a different thread tying them together. “All these events are related in the sense that they’re created by the rhetoric of the anti-choice movement. Their comments - calling us murderers and baby-killers - have created an environment that allows a fanatic to think it’s OK to torch a clinic.”

One patient, who would identify herself only as Janine L., said efforts to shut down the San Luis Obispo clinic were misguided because it offers more health care services than just abortions.

She also said the fire would not frighten her away.

“I’m one of the 13 million Americans who don’t have health insurance,” the 25-year-old said. “This is my only out.”

Terri Thorfinnson, spokeswoman for the Planned Parenthood of Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties, said the fires have prompted a security re-examination.

The organization has posted security guards at its four clinics, she said, but probably will install electronic surveillance cameras because it can’t afford guards indefinitely.

“We feel these attacks are very organized and this is just the beginning,” she said.

Since the fires, many people in San Luis Obispo, a community of 41,000, have come out in support of Planned Parenthood. More than 200 people came to a rally Monday sponsored by the National Organization for Women.

“Aren’t you scared? I am,” Councilwoman Kathy Smith told the crowd. “We have never had this kind of violence. We think it happens in L.A. or some other big city.”