FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
THURSDAY, AUGUST 17, 1995                          (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

              JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SUES TWO MEN FOR
      OBSTRUCTING ACCESS TO TWO MISSISSIPPI HEALTH CLINICS
                                
     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Two men, one of whom allegedly
pantomimed shooting employees of a women's health clinic in
Jackson, were sued today by the Justice Department under the
federal clinic access law.  The civil suit marks the 18th time
the Justice Department has used the one year-old law known as the
Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE).
     In a complaint filed today in U.S. District Court in
Jackson, the Justice Department accused Jackson resident Charles
Roy McMillan of threatening and intimidating employees on two
separate occasions at the Jackson Women's Health Organization
(JWHO) in May 1995.  It claims that McMillan allegedly told
several employees entering JWHO that they looked like birds
waiting to be shot and then pantomimed shooting them.  In another
case, McMillan offered to pay someone to burn down the building
housing the clinic. 
     The complaint also alleged that McMillan and another
unidentified man obstructed access to the New Women's Medical
Center (NWMC) in Jackson in the fall of 1994.  It claims that
their efforts to block access caused the escort of one patient to
drive her car into the clinic's entrance gate.
     Under FACE, the Justice Department can prosecute people who
use force, threat of force or physical obstruction to block
health clinics or harm health care providers or patients. 
     "Congress passed the clinic access law to protect not only 
a woman's right to reproductive health services, but the right of
individuals to provide such services," said Assistant Attorney
General for Civil Rights Deval L. Patrick.  "Today's case
underscores our continuing effort to ensure that women have
access to medical services that is free of violence and
intimidation."
     The suit seeks a court order prohibiting McMillan from
threatening JWHO employees and coming close enough to the clinic
to carry out the threats.  It also seeks to prohibit both men
from obstructing access to the NWHC or coming within 15 feet of
the entrance driveway.  Finally, it asks McMillan to compensate
the driver of the damaged vehicle, pay damages to JWHO employees,
and pay civil penalties to the U.S. treasury.
     The Justice Department has filed eight civil cases and ten   
criminal cases under FACE.   
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95-447