Iowa Man Attacks Clinic Worker

An employee of the Emma Goldman Clinic in Iowa City, Iowa was assaulted by a man last week who then attempted to break into the reproductive health clinic. The man, William Dennis Owens-Holst, grabbed the employee by the neck and arm, and threw her against a car before breaking a window and attempting to enter the clinic. The employee called the police, and Karen Kubby, executive director of the clinic, found Owens-Holst in the process of breaking in. He later told police he broke in “to break the fingers of the abortion doctors so they couldn’t kill babies,” reports the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Owens-Holst appeared in court this week on charges of third-degree burglary, fourth-degree criminal mischief and assault, and faces more than six years in prison and over $9,000 in fines if convicted on all counts.

Kubby told the Iowa City Press-Citizen that Owens-Holst was not a familiar protester, and that following a sweep for explosives, the clinic opened just a half-hour later than usual on Monday.

Media Resources: KCRG-TV 5/17/06; Iowa City Press-Citizen 5/17/06

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