After a gunman entered a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs on Black Friday, wounding nine people and killing another three, journalists were quick to blame conservatives, Fox News and the pro-life movement for the violent tragedy.
The knee-jerk reaction for more gun control was implicitly there, but the media went even further this time, demanding censorship of pro-life speech. Why should they stop at challenging one amendment?
Here are some of the worst examples of journalists blaming pro-lifers for the violence that ensued last week:
Vox’s “energy” blogger David Roberts outrageously claimed that pro-life extremists “want to kill” women.
Yes, one extreme wants to provide medical care to women. One extreme wants to kill those people. Both sides, really. https://t.co/9XQGuBTZbn
— David Roberts (@drvox) November 29, 2015
Ardent feminist and columnist for the Guardian, Jessica Valenti, claimed that “anti-choice extremists” knew “what kind of language” would incite violence that they “intended” violence – while she called for a stop to speech and activity by pro-lifers.
Anti-choice extremists aren't stupid. They know what kind language and strategies incite.
— Jessica Valenti (@JessicaValenti) November 28, 2015
Violent anti-choice rhetoric must end, or anti-abortion violence never will https://t.co/o9Lor8YevP I wrote about Fri's attack #StandWithPP
— Jessica Valenti (@JessicaValenti) November 29, 2015
Jamil Smith, senior editor for The New Republic agreed, saying that we needed to “stop pretending” that “anti-abortion rhetoric” didn’t cause this act of violence.
Please stop pretending that anti-abortion rhetoric doesn't influence anti-abortion violence. Read @JessicaValenti. https://t.co/xqWUNNxGjc
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) November 29, 2015
Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks claimed that “pro life’ terrorists” had killed “infinitely” more cops than Black Lives Matter activists.
So far, "pro-life" terrorists have killed infinitely more cops than Black Lives Matter activists (zero). What's wrong with their culture?!
— Cenk Uygur (@cenkuygur) November 29, 2015
At the same time, Amanda Marcotte echoed that “anti-choice” people were inherently violent (as opposed to “pro-choicers”) and could “whip out a gun” at any moment.
Anti-choice protesters know patients fear today’s the day one of them snaps and whips out a gun. And they do it anyway.
— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) November 30, 2015
https://t.co/lqV3adUAoz Ben Carson uses “both sides” rhetoric re: reproductive rights. Sorry, but pro-choicers aren’t shooting people.
— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) November 29, 2015
While they accuse pro-life speech, the media virtually ignored a stunning example of rhetoric influencing violence from their own side. In 2012, Floyd Lee-Corkins cited the Southern Poverty Law Center’s anti-conservative, pro-gay marriage stance as his inspiration for attempting to shoot up the conservative, pro-life Family Research Council that year.
While he directly cited a liberal organization’s rhetoric, the media turned a blind-eye to the incident. In other words, the media only cover “inspired violence” when it fits with their agenda.
