The Shattered Peace

Buffalo's abortion debate had achieved civility--until a bullet through a window cut down a doctor

By Joan Ladowski's assessment, things had been quiet lately at the GYN Womenservices clinic in Buffalo, N.Y., where she worked as a technician with Dr. Barnett Slepian--at least according to the standards she had come to accept. "I mean, the protesters are out there," she explains. "They'll say, 'Good morning,' we'll say, 'Good morning, have a good day,' and they would do their picketing. It's been peaceful." Last Wednesday evening, Slepian, 52, the man she calls "a sweetheart," left with his wife for dinner in nearby Toronto, saying cheerfully that he would "see you on Saturday" at the clinic.

He never...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!