[W]hen we understand fanaticism in this way, we see that it’s not inherently undemocratic. That what zealotry really is is a critique and a rejection of political moderation - not a rejection of reason, of rationality or anything like that. And, as such, fanaticism and reason can be consistent. And furthermore, it can be consistent with justice and democracy in times when moderation lends support to the enemies of democracy… so at certain points in history perhaps fanaticism is the more democratic option over liberal moderation.

— Joel Olson, quoted in Kansas Bleeding Again

Women will have to pay more for care. Many women may go without care. And those who support the actions of Dr. Tiller’s assassin will also see that extreme violence works. Harassment couldn’t shut Dr. Tiller’s clinic down. Intimidation couldn’t shut it down. Threats couldn’t shut it down. Bombings, vandalism, and shooting Dr. Tiller couldn’t shut his clinic down. But murdering him? That’s what it took. And that’s how they got what they wanted.

— Dr. Tiller’s Clinic Will Remain Closed [via]

We are, and have for a long time, been in a much more precarious position than we sometimes realize; we have spent too many years defending an ever-shrinking number of clinics and doctors against the repeated harassment, blockades, vandalism and guerrilla violence of the antis. We owe it to Dr. Tiller to remember him — to remember him and to remember Dr. Gunn, Dr. Patterson, Dr. Britton, James Barrett, Shannon Lowney, Lee Ann Nichols, Robert Sanderson, and Dr. Slepian — to remember our dead. But more than that, we need to work in honor of their memories, and to make sure that there are no more of whom we have nothing left but names.

— Bleeding Kansas