Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

‘You’re lucky I didn’t have my pistol’: Video shows pro-lifers violently attacked outside clinic
Life Site News ^ | Ben Johnson

Posted on 12/21/2013 5:55:51 PM PST by Morgana

NORMAN, OK, December 20, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A shocking new video shows a muscular young man punching a pro-life protester in the face before chasing, pushing, and threatening to shoot a group of pro-life activists standing outside an Oklahoma abortion facility on Tuesday.

The incident is detailed in two videos, which were uploaded to YouTube on December 17.

Toby Harmon says he and his friend, Jeremy Brown, approached a young couple just leaving Dr. Larry Burns' Abortion Surgery Center in Norman, Oklahoma, and asked if they could help. “She replied something like, 'You can't help us. There's nothing you can do to help us,'” Harmon says.

Then, the says, he young man removed his jacket and came toward them in a menacing fashion.

The second video shows a a young, bearded man shove Brown before punching him in the face.

“There's forgiveness in Christ,” Brown replied, literally turning the other cheek.

Video footage shows the young man follow the 36-year-old Harmon at this point, repeatedly grabbing his video camera, as well as spitting on their signs. As the camera is blocked during a struggle, Harmon comments that a noise in the video is the sound of the man spitting on him, as well.

Harmon says the man threw his first chest-mounted camera to the ground and destroyed it, and the original video file of the incident was corrupted beyond repair. His goal, Harmon said, was to destroy the evidence of the altercation. However, Harmon had a second video camera, which he used to capture the video posted to YouTube.

As Harmon struggled with the man, Brown called the police. The Norman Police Department's call log shows the alleged “assault and battery,” as well as “assault and vandalism” took place at 9:13 a.m.

“Right now, he is following us, and we are literally fleeing from him,” Jeremy tells an operator, saying the man ha followed them 50 yards away from the center at that point.

After walking off, the man says, “You’re lucky I didn’t have my pistol on me, too. I would have shot y'all now.”

“Did you just threaten my life?” Harmon asks in disbelief.

“Yeah, I did,” the man responds.

At no point in the video do any of the protesters, who are members of the controversial pro-life group Abolish Human Abortion, retaliate with violence.

Click "like" if you want to end abortion!

“We turned the other cheek,” Harmon says on a follow-up video recounting his side of the day's events. “We didn't strike back. We didn't hit back.”

They did, however, file charges against the man. A court date is said to be pending.

Harmon says instead, he prayed for the couple and asks viewers to do the same.

“Obviously there's a lot of hurt and pain there, and they do need the healing of Jesus Christ,” he says in the second video.

The couple may find they need more than emotional counseling. AHA has produced a document about Dr. Burns' legal history, having faced five lawsuits – including a plaintiff who said in 1997 that the doctor's negligence and malpractice “required emergency intervention and surgery to preserve her life.” All cases were dismissed.

Abortion is at the root of the violence he experienced outside the clinic, Harmon says. The man in the video “did all of these things because of the overwhelming guilt of what he had just done,” Toby says. “That is where that kind of violence and anger comes from.”

Anecdotal evidence may support his claim. Last April, a man with two hunting knives slashed a banner in front of pro-life protesters who were reading the Bible in front of the Jackson Women's Health Organization, the last abortion facility in Mississippi. Rev. Rusty Lee Thomas, assistant director of Operation Save America, told LifeSiteNews.com that in his experience most of the hostility or violence they encounter around the nation comes from those who have been involved in an abortion. Instead of asking God to“forgive them and heal them, they act in anger, and they lash out,” he said, “or in this case, slashed out.”

Harmon says he looks forward to meeting the man he says attacked him again – to show him kindness and the gentle nature of Christian love. He says, “I just pray that I would have an opportunity somehow to let him know that there's no hard feelings and that I can share the love of Christ with him.”

The blog Saynsumthn first reported the story, which AHA posted on its Facebook page on Thursday. Video on linky


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: abortion; attack; clinic; prolife

1 posted on 12/21/2013 5:55:52 PM PST by Morgana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Morgana

Turn the other cheek? Not I.


2 posted on 12/21/2013 5:59:01 PM PST by HANG THE EXPENSE (Life's tough.It's tougher when you're stupid.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Morgana

“the last abortion facility in Mississippi”

Efforts among conservatives in this state should be focused on doing whatever necessary through courts, regulation legislation, and activism to SHUT DOWN THIS LAST NECROPOLIS OF INFANTICIDE!


3 posted on 12/21/2013 6:01:31 PM PST by Viennacon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HANG THE EXPENSE; narses; little jeremiah; All

In the video it can be heard “his girlfriend just had an abortion” so this is why he’s upset.

He’s attacking the wrong person for the death of his child that is the problem.


4 posted on 12/21/2013 6:02:30 PM PST by Morgana (Always a bit of truth in dark humor.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Morgana

The ever so tolerant left on display.


5 posted on 12/21/2013 6:04:26 PM PST by Blood of Tyrants (From time to time the.tree of liberty must be watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Morgana

This guy is not worth pulling a gun on.


6 posted on 12/21/2013 6:04:55 PM PST by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote; then find me a real conservative to vote for)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Morgana

Never protest unless armed.


7 posted on 12/21/2013 6:26:25 PM PST by RKBA Democrat (Getting some small say in who will get to hold the whip doesn't make you any less a slave.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: freekitty

He was a violent criminal. I don’t agree with this school of thought that says you should endure assault, serious bodily injury, or even death rather than act in self defense.


8 posted on 12/21/2013 6:31:26 PM PST by RKBA Democrat (Getting some small say in who will get to hold the whip doesn't make you any less a slave.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Morgana

If they would kill there own innocent unborn child they would kill anyone.


9 posted on 12/21/2013 6:42:40 PM PST by detective
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RKBA Democrat

I never said anything about enduring assault. I said this guy isn’t worth it.


10 posted on 12/21/2013 6:43:22 PM PST by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote; then find me a real conservative to vote for)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson