Frontline Season 14 Episode 10 Murder on 'Abortion Row'

Murder on 'Abortion Row', an episode in season 14 of Frontline, takes an in-depth look at the contentious issue of abortion in the United States. In particular, the episode focuses on the brutal murders of two abortion providers, Dr. John Britton and his bodyguard James Barrett, and the attempted murder of Dr. George Tiller. These attacks, which occurred in the 1990s, were perpetrated by anti-abortion extremists who saw violence as a means of stopping the practice of abortion.

The episode begins by introducing viewers to Dr. George Tiller, a doctor who performed late-term abortions in Wichita, Kansas. Tiller was a frequent target of anti-abortion protesters, who picketed outside his clinic and harassed both him and his patients. In 1993, Tiller was shot in both arms by an anti-abortion extremist, but he continued to provide abortions despite the danger.

The episode then turns to the murder of Dr. John Britton and his bodyguard James Barrett. Britton was a physician who provided abortions on the Gulf Coast of Florida, and he had been the target of anti-abortion protests for years. In 1994, he was gunned down outside the clinic where he worked, along with Barrett, who was accompanying him that day. The killer, Paul Hill, was a former Presbyterian minister who believed that killing abortion providers was a justifiable act of self-defense.

The episode delves into the lives of both Britton and Hill, exploring the events that led them to their fateful encounter outside the clinic. It also looks at the wider context of the anti-abortion movement in the United States, including the rise of militant groups like Operation Rescue and the Army of God. Through interviews with experts and activists on both sides of the issue, the episode seeks to shed light on the complex web of beliefs and motivations that underlie the violence.

The second half of the episode focuses on the attempted murder of Dr. George Tiller in 1993. The shooter, Shelley Shannon, was a member of the Army of God and saw herself as a warrior in a holy war against abortion. She targeted Tiller because he was one of the few doctors in the country who performed late-term abortions. Tiller survived the attack but was left with permanent injuries.

The episode explores the impact of these violent acts on the abortion rights movement in the United States. Many clinic workers, doctors, and patients were too afraid to continue their work or seek out abortions in the aftermath of the attacks. The episode also looks at the legal response to the violence, including the passage of the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which made it a crime to interfere with reproductive health clinics.

Murder on 'Abortion Row' is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged episode that explores one of the most divisive issues in American society. Through its careful examination of the lives of the victims and perpetrators of anti-abortion violence, the episode seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the complex motivations behind these acts and the impact they have on individuals and society as a whole.