A Chilling Four-Part Series on Anti-Abortion Violence You Shouldn’t Miss
Ms. Magazine’s new four-part series traces the rise of anti-abortion violence—from the murder of Dr. George Tiller to the recent Minnesota assassinations.
In the span of four days, Ms. Magazine published one of the most ambitious examinations of anti-abortion violence in recent memory. Written by journalist Jodi Enda, the series tracks a grim arc: from past assassinations to present-day killings, from political rhetoric to religious ideology, and finally, to the people who refuse to be driven out of the fight.
The opening piece, Murder, Pardons and Impunity, establishes the stakes. Enda details how anti-abortion violence escalated under Donald Trump, culminating in the shocking assassination of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband. It is a story not only about one crime, but about the political climate that has emboldened extremists and stripped away deterrents.
From there, The Long Shadow of Dr. George Tiller revisits the 2009 murder of Dr. Tiller in Kansas—a moment that forever altered the movement for reproductive healthcare. Enda draws a throughline from that killing to today’s landscape, where providers still operate under siege, often with little more than cameras, locked doors, and community trust to protect them.
The third piece, ‘Dad Went to War’, shifts focus to ideology. It’s a disturbing portrait of how extremist religious beliefs have been weaponized, culminating in the Minnesota shootings. Here, Enda shows how theology and politics can become entangled in ways that justify violence to its adherents.
The series concludes with ‘We Can Do Hard Things’, a closer look at the people on the front lines—doctors, nurses, and clinic staff who continue their work despite the danger. It is a story of resilience, but also of exhaustion, as providers wrestle with both physical threats and the unrelenting pressures of a hostile political environment.
Why this series matters
Enda’s reporting underscores a crucial truth: violence against abortion providers is not a relic of the past. It is a present and growing threat, shaped by political signals, cultural battles, and religious fervor. The stories remind us that the fight over reproductive rights has always carried mortal risks, and that those risks are increasing in an era when accountability is scarce.
For those of us covering or studying this movement, the series offers not just narrative detail but context—connecting the dots between past assassinations, current acts of terror, and the political indifference that allows them to continue.
It is journalism that both documents and warns.