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[****PNEWS CONFERENCES****]
From: Tom Burghardt <tburghardt@igc.apc.org>
Subject: "FAMILY VALUES AND OPERATION RESCUE

*** "FAMILY VALUES" AND OPERATION RESCUE ***
**Anti-Abortion Activist Arrested for Spousal Battering**
 
By Tom Burghardt,
Bay Area Coalition for Our Reproductive Rights
 
*              *              *              *              *
 
SAN FRANCISCO -- Steven M. Butler, 32, a long-time activist with
Operation Rescue of California, was arrested in Livermore on
December 8 and charged with beating his wife during an argument
over housecleaning.
 
     Butler's wife, Cherie Butler, told Livermore police her
husband had kicked her in the back of the head and then tossed a
metal chair at her.
 
     The chair missed and instead struck the couple's 18-month
old daughter according to court records.  Police stated neither
Cherie Butler nor the child required medical treatment.
 
     Butler was arraigned December 9 in Pleasanton Municipal
Court.  He is charged with one count of inflicting corporal
punishment on a spouse.  Judge Hugh Walker set bail at $25,000.
 
     Cherie Butler told police her husband beat and kicked her at
their East Airway Boulevard home in Livermore, Thursday, December
8.  She said he became enraged because she hadn't "properly"
cleaned the house.
 
     When arrested, Butler ordered his wife and child from their
home and declared he was replacing the locks to the front gate
and front door.
 
     Court records also show that Cherie Butler told police her
husband threatened to kill her if she told anyone about this
egregious incident of domestic violence.  Steven Butler denied
the charges.
 
     Butler, a prominent activist with Operation Rescue of
California, has been arrested on multiple occasions for violent
clinic blockades and invasions organized by the group.
 
     He has blockaded clinics and targeted health care providers
at their homes in Bakersfield, Livermore, Concord, Oakland, San
Mateo and San Francisco.  Butler, an organizer of "No Place to
Hide" residential pickets, regularly targets Bay Area abortion
providers.
 
     In December 1990, during an aborted clinic blockade at
Women's Choice Medical Clinic in Oakland, Butler attempted to
break the leg of clinic defender, Laura Weide.  
 
     "We had formed a defense line when OR's goon squad arrived,"
said Ms. Weide.  "My leg was wrapped around a fence post when
Butler grabbed me.  He began to twist my leg and wouldn't let go. 
He kept shouting at me, calling me a 'baby-killer' and 'a bitch.' 
He was enraged, out of control.  It was obvious he intended to
hurt me.  He seemed to enjoy it."  
 
     Oakland Police on-site did nothing.  Only forceful
intervention by other clinic defenders prevented Butler from
seriously injuring Ms. Weide.  
 
     Commenting on Butler's attack on his wife, Ms. Weide, an
organizer with the Bay Area Coalition for Our Reproductive Rights
said, "This violent assault on Cherie Butler and their child
comes as no surprise.  Steven Butler has a history of violence
against women and health care workers.  It's disgusting; part of
a pattern of intimidation and terror."   
 
     BACORR activist Sharon Fleming declared, "Steve Butler comes
from a long-line of women-hating thugs who flock to groups like
Operation Rescue.  I guess I shouldn't be surprised that he'd do
something as low as this.  While Operation Rescue claim they want
to 'save babies,' violence like this only prove they really want
to control women's lives."  
 
     'Family values' my ass!" Ms. Fleming declared.  "Ask Cherie
Butler what kind of 'family values' lead a batterer to kick his
partner and then to throw a metal chair that hits an 18-month old
baby.  He's scum!"
 
Source: Guy Ashley, "Anti-abortion activist faces charge of
battering wife in Livermore home," VALLEY TIMES, Livermore, CA,
Saturday, December 10, 1994, p. 4A
 
*              *              *              *              *
 
Bay Area Coalition for Our Reproductive Rights (BACORR)
750 La Playa #730
San Francisco, CA 94121
Office:  (415) 252-0750
Fax:     (415) 431-6523
E-mail:  tburghardt@igc.apc.org
 
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BACORR:  DEFENDING CLINICS, EXPOSING TERRORISM:  BECAUSE NO ONE'S
GONNA DO IT FOR US!
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