CBS This Morning on Monday highlighted an abortion battle in Kentucky and the efforts to close the last remaining clinic. Journalist Anna Werner talked to the clinic’s director and pressed her on whether she really “believes” the assertion by a pro-life group that they are non-violent. A CBS graphic for the segment fretted, “Closing the Last Clinic?”
Speaking of Operation Save America, Werner asked Anne Ahola: “One of their activists told me they don't espouse violence. Do you believe that?” She continued that Ahola “has been the clinic's director for 17 years" and wondered, "How do you feel about being a target?”
She then featured unchallenged reply:
AHOLA: It's offensive because there are people outside who believe they have a monopoly over God and they don't understand He is in there too. God is everywhere. You know, those people outside aren't the only Christians in the world.
CBS has previously decried the GOP’s efforts to defund Planned Parenthood.
In March, This Morning co-host Gayle King wondered if Republicans were planning a “war on women” with the effort.
A transcript of the segment is below:
CBS This Morning
7/24/17
7:16am ETCBS graphic: Closing the Last Clinic? Anti-Abortion Activists Target KY’s Final Provider
GAYLE KING: Kentucky has become ground zero for the abortion debate and the state. It’s sole remaining abortion clinic is under threat and the state could become the first in the nation without an abortion provider. Hundreds of protesters from a national anti-abortion group are gathering there this week. They're making the state and the clinic their target. Anna Werner is in Louisville where she’s been talking to the clinic’s director and those who want to shut it down. Anna, good morning.
ANNA WERNER: Good morning, Gayle. And what you're looking at here, this black and yellow tape on the sidewalk, this is a buffer zone. It was put into place by a federal judge late last week because back in May protesters actually blocked patients' access into this abortion clinic. Now what the protesters have been doing is lining up along the edge talking to patients as they go in. Their goal is to shut this clinic down. Abortion opponents started gathering at churches in Louisville over the weekend, gearing up for citywide protests. Evangelical activists Jason Storms and wife Sarah brought their eight children with them from Milwaukee along with a firm belief.
JASON STORMS: We have the wholesale, legalized, protected, tax-subsidized killing of little human beings in the womb is, to me, deplorable.
WERNER: The group he belongs to, Operation Save America, calls Roe V. Wade, a covenant with death, and wants to close down the clinic, the last remaining abortion provider in the state.
GOVERNOR MATT BEVIN: This is exactly why this matters.
WERNER: Kentucky's abortion landscape is changing. Republican governor Matt Bevin publicly opposes abortion and the GOP-controlled legislature has passed new restrictions on abortion. In May, nearly a dozen protesters were arrested for blocking entrance to the clinic. Storm says they plan to be peaceful this time.
STORMS: Well, there’s certainly not going to be any violence by anybody on our side.
WERNER: One of their activists told me that they don't espouse violence. Do you believe that?
ANNE AHOLA (EMW Women’s Surgical Center Director): No.
WERNER: Anne Ahola has been the clinic’s director for 17 years. How do you feel about being a target?
AHOLA: It's offensive because there are people outside who believe they have a monopoly over God and they don't understand He is in there too. God is everywhere. You know, those people outside aren't the only Christians in the world.
WERNER: So the U.S. marshals are here to help keep the piece today. Also later today the federal judge is going to decide whether to keep this buffer zone in place for a long period of time, but protesters don't just plan to be here. They plan to go to the clinic doctors’ home as well, Jeff.
