Area clinics receive cautions

As word of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling spread through the Tampa Bay area, some abortion clinics began receiving faxed security alerts warning of a possible increase in antiabortion activity.

In one alert, sent to Tampa Women's Health Center, officials were urged to make sure clinics' surveillance cameras are working.

"I think it's sad," Susan Moore, the director of the health center, said after learning of the ruling.

"Patients should feel comfortable walking into a building," she said. "Abortion is legal. They're not doing anything wrong, so we should be readily accessible to the patient. It shouldn't be a problem to get through the front door of a doctor's office. You should not have to go through chains and picketers."

For now, Moore said, the center will not take extra security precautions.

"But if we find it necessary to take other precautions, of course, we will," she added.

The clinic received notice Monday that an antiabortion group known for "blockades, graphic signs and attacks on clinics" is to descend on a Tampa Bay area clinic March 5, Moore said.

In addition to the Tampa office, the Women's Health Center has clinics in St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Sarasota.

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