- Sep 21, 2002
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zealots...
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/7316756.htm
Flier angers woman's family
LIVERMORE 18-YEAR-OLD DIED AFTER ABORTION
By Barbara Feder Ostrov
Mercury News
The family of Holly Patterson, the Livermore woman who died in September after receiving an abortion pill believed to be RU-486, is criticizing an anti-abortion youth group for using her name and image without their permission.
The Virginia-based group, Rock for Life, which is affiliated with the American Life League, launched a ``Remember Holly Patterson'' campaign with fliers that show pictures of Patterson. The fliers, distributed around the Bay Area, take aim at Planned Parenthood, where the 18-year-old sought an abortion.
``We just find it so offensive and disturbing that they would take advantage of our tragedy,'' said stepmother Helen Patterson. The group never contacted the family, Patterson said. The family has not taken a stance on the abortion debate, she said, but supports legislation requiring parents to be notified if their child seeks an abortion.
The family also supports a bill, introduced by federal lawmakers and dubbed ``Holly's Law,'' that would withdraw approval of RU-486 until its safety can be re-evaluated, she said. RU-486, which allows women to terminate pregnancies without surgery, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2000.
A preliminary report released by the Alameda County coroner in late October found that Holly Patterson died of septic shock after receiving a drug-induced abortion, although the report did not mention RU-486 by name. The Patterson family said they believe that is the drug she received.
Erik Whittington, 34, co-founder of Rock for Life, said the group did not contact the family before producing the fliers because it did not know how to reach them. The group meant no disrespect to the Patterson family, he said, ``but it's really shocking to me that they find it distasteful and offensive.''
Whittington said the group, at least for now, will continue to use Patterson's name and picture in its campaign. The group obtained photo rights from a yearbook photography company to use its portrait of Patterson and from a Bay Area newspaper to use a photo taken at her funeral, Whittington said.
``We need to do what we need to do in order to save lives,'' Whittington said. ``It's not in our plans to stop. It depends on them contacting us and explaining their concerns.''
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/7316756.htm
Flier angers woman's family
LIVERMORE 18-YEAR-OLD DIED AFTER ABORTION
By Barbara Feder Ostrov
Mercury News
The family of Holly Patterson, the Livermore woman who died in September after receiving an abortion pill believed to be RU-486, is criticizing an anti-abortion youth group for using her name and image without their permission.
The Virginia-based group, Rock for Life, which is affiliated with the American Life League, launched a ``Remember Holly Patterson'' campaign with fliers that show pictures of Patterson. The fliers, distributed around the Bay Area, take aim at Planned Parenthood, where the 18-year-old sought an abortion.
``We just find it so offensive and disturbing that they would take advantage of our tragedy,'' said stepmother Helen Patterson. The group never contacted the family, Patterson said. The family has not taken a stance on the abortion debate, she said, but supports legislation requiring parents to be notified if their child seeks an abortion.
The family also supports a bill, introduced by federal lawmakers and dubbed ``Holly's Law,'' that would withdraw approval of RU-486 until its safety can be re-evaluated, she said. RU-486, which allows women to terminate pregnancies without surgery, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2000.
A preliminary report released by the Alameda County coroner in late October found that Holly Patterson died of septic shock after receiving a drug-induced abortion, although the report did not mention RU-486 by name. The Patterson family said they believe that is the drug she received.
Erik Whittington, 34, co-founder of Rock for Life, said the group did not contact the family before producing the fliers because it did not know how to reach them. The group meant no disrespect to the Patterson family, he said, ``but it's really shocking to me that they find it distasteful and offensive.''
Whittington said the group, at least for now, will continue to use Patterson's name and picture in its campaign. The group obtained photo rights from a yearbook photography company to use its portrait of Patterson and from a Bay Area newspaper to use a photo taken at her funeral, Whittington said.
``We need to do what we need to do in order to save lives,'' Whittington said. ``It's not in our plans to stop. It depends on them contacting us and explaining their concerns.''
zealots indeed.
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