Tessa Weinberg

Courier Journal

When Anne Ahola saw the flier broadcasting her picture and home address under the bold phrase "Killers Among Us," her first thought was:

"Who does that?"

Ahola, the director of Kentucky's only abortion provider, said she has never experienced harassment on that level in her 17 years working there. But she's not fazed.

"I'm disturbed on other people's behalf," Ahola said. "I am not ashamed of what I do. And they need to stop being ashamed of themselves."

Operation Save America, an anti-abortion group holding its national gathering in Louisville through July 29, distributed the fliers in three neighborhoods, targeting people working at the EMW Women's Surgical Center, 136 W. Market St.

Rusty Lee Thomas, the group's national director and one of 11 protesters arrested in May for blocking the clinic's entrance, said the group made about 1,500 fliers in total. They've distributed about 500 each, for Ahola, Dr. Ernest Marshall, the clinic's founder and provider, and Tanya Franklin, a physician at the clinic.

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Joseph Spurgeon, a local leader of the group, said in addition to fliers being passed out, some were mailed to the employees' neighborhoods last week. This is the first time Operation Save America has done this in Louisville, Spurgeon said.

The fliers come days into Operation Save America's weeklong event and just one day after a federal judge's decision to keep a temporary buffer zone in place around the clinic through Saturday, the last day of the group's event.

Thomas and Spurgeon said they have mobilized anti-abortion advocates to go to the neighborhoods of clinic employees and pass out fliers and preach.

"People need to know that these type of people live among us," Spurgeon said during a Tuesday press conference. "We're asking them to love their neighbor. Including Anne. We love her. We don't want her to face the judgment of God. But she will if she continues to rebel."

Ahola had a different take on the role of religion.

"They don't have (a) monopoly on God out there. For them to think that they're the only ones who know God and worship him is ridiculous," Ahola said. "God is very much in here, and I am blessed every day that I can be of assistance and be compassionate and kind and helpful to the patients who seek our services."

On Twitter, the Louisville Clinic Escorts, a group of volunteers that escort women to the clinic, described the "mass mailing" of fliers as a threat to get clinic employees "hurt or killed."



More:Protesters plan to show abortion on electronic billboard in downtown Louisville

Background:Judge grants temporary buffer zone outside Louisville abortion clinic ahead of weeklong protests

Ahola's neighbors have been nothing but supportive, she said.

She received a call from one of her neighbors Tuesday who thought the fliers were outrageous and commended Ahola for the work she does.

Ahola said she's not concerned that the fliers label her a murderer.

"Everybody knows what murder is, and we don't murder babies over here," Ahola said.

Louisville Metro Police Department Spokesman Lamont Washington said the department has been in communication with Operation Save America and that the group has "been extremely forthcoming" about their plans this week.

Washington said LMPD is not taking any action on the fliers or increasing security in the area because the fliers only include information that is publicly available.

"You're not violating any laws handing out publicly available information at this point," Washington said.

Spurgeon insisted that the group is not "calling on violence" by distributing the fliers, and said he isn't concerned that sharing clinic employees' home addresses will facilitate acts of vandalism or violence.

How it started:11 arrests made in protest at Louisville abortion clinic in May

"We're not worried about it because this has been done in several campaigns. It's been very successful in getting some abortion doctors to leave," Spurgeon said.

Thomas said he would be comfortable if his information was distributed in a similar manner.

"I'm a public guy. Bring it. If you come to my neighborhood, if you come to my house, I'll invite you in, I'll give you Texas barbecue and we'll sit down and have a conversation because I've got nothing to hide," Thomas said.

Ahola said she hasn't had time to decide if she will pursue any action on the fliers because she has been focused on helping patients at the clinic all day.

More:As buffer zone debated, courthouse the first site of weeklong abortion protests

Patients have been appalled, Ahola said, of the protests happening outside the clinic. However, she said she has already seen the temporary buffer zone implemented by a federal judge make a difference.

"The presence that we have had outside from the police and all these people who have come into town to help us, it's been amazing," she said. "As far as the safety for our patients ... we appreciate every step that anybody can take to assure that our patients make it in because nobody needs to be scared and targeted when they are looking for health care."

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