Research Symposium

BIO

My name is Alayja Dodd, I'm from Orlando Florida, and an undergraduate Criminology major at Florida State University. I have a deep passion for pursuing a career in law. My research interests lie in politics and spefically societal trends throughout time.

Violence Against Abortion Clinics Conspiracy (VAAPCON)

Abstract

Cataloging Federal Documents regarding The Violence Against Abortion Providers Conspiracy (VAAPCON) is crucial to understanding the social and legislative changes made within the FBI in managing terrorism between the 1990s and today. The documents being cataloged were highly controversial and were sought after by organizations like the Army of God and other extreme right-wing groups. Now recently released, these documents showcase the tensions of the time and the FBI’s precautions when dealing with VAAPCON.
 
The VAAPCON investigations were first prompted by the killing of Dr. David Gunn by anti-abortionist Michael F. Griffin in Pensacola, Florida. Dr. Gunn’s death and the resulting controversy over access to women’s clinics prompted Congress to pass the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (F.A.C.E) in 1993—the passing of F.A.C.E prompted an outbreak of anti-abortion violence, specifically from anti-abortion group Army of God.
 
When conducting VAAPCON investigations the FBI had significant difficulty in creating investigation procedures that didn’t have political influence. Stuck between enforcing F.A.C.E and protecting First Amendment rights, the FBI swiftly learned that when dealing with the topic of reproductive rights, its bound to be innately political. My research project, which is to analyze FBI files about VAAPCON, is to see how political and constitutional stressors impacted the FBI investigation.

Keywords: VAAPCON, Violence Against Abortion Clinics, Paul Hill