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You are here: Home / Women / Colorado Springs: Black Friday

Colorado Springs: Black Friday

November 28th, 2015 by Sallie Bingham in Women, Politics 6 Comments

Colorado Springs - Black FridayIt seems extraordinary to me that the four or five women TV journalists this dark evening never mentioned the poisonous political atmosphere that certainly caused the shooting at the Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood Clinic a few hours ago.

Are we so neutralized politically that we no longer dare to connect cause and effect?

After years of right-wing Republican attacks on reproductive freedom, we have have another murder for which the real perpetrators are known but never called to account.

When deranged individuals receive permission for their deranged acts from irresponsible political groups and irresponsible demagogues, why are we unable or unwilling to make the connection?

When deranged individuals receive permission for their deranged acts from irresponsible political groups and irresponsible demagogues, why are we unable or unwilling to make the connection?

Female anchors for whom we all once had so much hope—new voices, new visions, breaking down the old stereotypes—can risk nothing more than to say that the Colorado Planned Parenthood Clinic was “controversial” and even to intimate that it was the Clinic’s fault that the killer got in the front door.

“Controversial,” when it offers legal access to abortion as well as many other women’s health issues?

(Maybe the news would be given its due resonance if the announcers were all scraggly-toothed women elders instead of these pretty blond goddesses who have been bred, trained and curried to please).

What other facility in this country has to provide a Safe Room for its employees and patients?

Nothing can change or will change until we name the perpetrators, until we make the pundits who create and endorse this violence, and their minions, feel a bit of this Black Friday pain.


 

Email from Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains: November 28, 2015

Dear Sallie,

The news of violence yesterday in our beloved Colorado Springs community is devastating. We are deeply saddened by the deaths of three people who were killed, including the UC Colorado Springs officer who was part of the first responder team who bravely rushed to defend innocent lives. We have confirmed that all PPRM staff are accounted for and safe and we are awaiting confirmation on the status of our patients.

We are so grateful for the brave work of our staff and law enforcement who acted quickly and honorably. The PPRM staff acted courageously; ensuring fellow staff, patients, and partners were moved to safe areas of the health center. They are true heroes.

We are working closely with our partners in law enforcement to understand all the details on those harmed. What we do know is that our health center has been destroyed. We have a long road ahead of us and we are thankful to have each of you at our side.

Today, our incredible staff opened up our health center doors across the region, with the exception of our center in Colorado Springs, to ensure that our patients were able to access the critical healthcare that we provide day in and day out…no matter what.

Below, I have included Vicki Cowart’s official statement from last night for you to share with your communities. Please do not hesitate to reach out directly with questions.

In solidarity,

Sarah Taylor-Nanista
Vice President of Development
Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains

Begin Statement from Vicki Cowart, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, November 27, 2015

“The heart of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains (PPRM) is broken tonight as we try to make sense of the horrific tragedy that struck our beloved health center in Colorado Springs, today. Our thoughts are with the all those who were impacted and particularly the families of the two civilians and one heroic law-enforcement officer whose lives were lost. We are grateful to report that all our staff are safe and accounted for and are hoping for the best possible outcomes for the others wounded in this attack.

“We are thankful to our security personnel and to the Colorado Springs Police Department, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Department, and the UCCS campus officers, who came to our aid and served with such selfless valor. Their fast response, strength, and bravery undoubtedly saved countless lives today. We also appreciate that our Colorado Springs staff responded quickly following our security protocols.

“The information regarding the gunman’s motive remains unknown as does whether Planned Parenthood was targeted deliberately. PPRM’s top priority will always be the safety of our patients and staff. We maintain strong security measures and always work closely with law enforcement agencies to ensure our very strong safety record.

“We share the concerns of many Americans that the continued attacks against abortion providers and patients, as well as law enforcement officers, is creating a poisonous environment that breeds acts of violence. But, we will never back away from providing critical health care to millions of people who rely on and trust us every day.”

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains serves 103,000 people in Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Wyoming every year. These services include lifesaving cancer screenings, HIV and STD testing and treatment, contraception, and abortion care. While our Colorado Springs health center will remain closed while we rebuild, our 28 other regional health centers will remain open, providing compassionate, high-quality health care. No matter what.

 

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In Women, Politics Planned Parenthood abortion

A long and fruitful career as a writer began in 1960 with the publication of Sallie Bingham's novel, After Such Knowledge. This was followed by 15 collections of short stories in addition to novels, memoirs and plays, as well as the 2020 biography The Silver Swan: In Search of Doris Duke.

Her latest book, Taken by the Shawnee, is a work of historical fiction published by Turtle Point Press in June of 2024. Her previous memoir, Little Brother, was published by Sarabande Books in 2022. Her short story, "What I Learned From Fat Annie" won the Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize in 2023 and the story "How Daddy Lost His Ear," from her forthcoming short story collection How Daddy Lost His Ear and Other Stories (September 23, 2025), received second prize in the 2023 Sean O’Faolain Short Story Competition.

She is an active and involved feminist, working for women’s empowerment, who founded the Kentucky Foundation for Women, which gives grants to Kentucky artists and writers who are feminists, The Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture at Duke University, and the Women’s Project and Productions in New York City. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Sallie's complete biography is available here.

Comments

  1. Will Adams on Facebook says

    November 28th, 2015 at 11:45 am

    So true. And when they lather up that crazy person who actually believes what he is hearing, and it seems to always be a he, they are quick to condemn the act and offer prayers for the fallen and more guns to the survivors. Madness.

    Reply
  2. Carol M Johnson says

    November 28th, 2015 at 12:15 pm

    At what point in time did the Republican Party become peopled, and led, with such narrow-minded individuals? Did all the sensible ones retire, or were they just worn down by this new breed that seems to be in control, and just caved into their noisy rhetoric? It’s a sorry situation in sooo many ways.

    Reply
  3. Will Adams on Facebook says

    November 28th, 2015 at 12:36 pm

    1985. North Carolina.

    Reply
    • Carol M. Johnson says

      November 28th, 2015 at 5:07 pm

      What happened in 1985 in North Carolina? Refresh my memory.

      Reply
  4. Will Adams on Facebook says

    November 28th, 2015 at 5:19 pm

    Moral Majority came together under Jessie Helms. The evangelical vote was consolidated. The prosperity gospel was launched.

    Reply
  5. Cathy Hill on Facebook says

    November 28th, 2015 at 5:27 pm

    Also the elimination of the Fairness Doctrine in 1987 – enabling Rush Limbaugh, Fox News, etc., to corrupt the airwaves.

    Reply

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