EBay refuses benefit auction for Roeder By JUDY L. THOMAS The Kansas City Star

EBay refuses benefit auction for Roeder

By JUDY L. THOMAS

The Kansas City Star

An eBay auction planned by abortion opponents to raise money for the man accused of killing Wichita abortion doctor George Tiller will not be permitted, company officials said Tuesday.

“Based on the details we know about the anticipated listings, we believe these would violate our policy regarding offensive material,” the company said in a statement to The Kansas City Star. “EBay will not permit the items in question to be posted to the eBay site, and they will be removed if they are posted.”

The announcement came the same day that Tiller’s family implored eBay to prevent the auction.

“These materials contain hate messages, glorify violence against abortion doctors who provide constitutionally protected medical services, and instruct on means of violence, including bombing, of abortion clinics,” said Lee Thompson, an attorney for the Tiller family, in a letter sent to eBay on Tuesday and approved by Tiller’s widow, Jeanne Tiller.

“We urge you to deny access to the resources of eBay for this reprehensible and vile ‘auction.’ ”

The auction was intended to raise money for the defense of Scott Roeder, who is charged with first-degree murder in Tiller’s death and is scheduled to go on trial in January. Currently, Roeder is being represented by public defenders.

Roeder’s supporters are encouraging him to use a “necessity defense,” saying that Tiller’s killing on May 31 was an act of justifiable homicide. Other anti-abortion activists charged with violent crimes have tried to use such a defense, but with little success.

Those working on the fundraiser said banning the auction was a violation of their rights.

“They’re not only chilling the First Amendment of the Constitution, they’re raping the whole Constitution,” said Regina Dinwiddie, a Kansas City abortion opponent and friend of Roeder.

She said the move wouldn’t stop those who are trying to help Roeder.

“We have other plans that I’m not at the discretion to say right now,” she said. “This is money for Scott Roeder so he can have a true defense. They’re trying to shoot down the truth of what went on behind Tiller’s closed doors and fenced gates, but it’s not going to work.”

The controversy arose after an article in Sunday’s Star about the auction. Items being donated included an Army of God manual, a prison cookbook compiled by a woman doing time for abortion clinic bombings and arsons, and several autographed drawings submitted by Roeder.

One drawing was of David and Goliath that depicted David holding the head of Goliath and the name “Tiller” on Goliath’s forehead. The words “child-murdering industry” were written on the corpse.

Dave Leach, an Iowa abortion opponent who was organizing the auction, planned to launch it Sunday. He was donating a reprint of an Army of God manual, an underground publication that describes dozens of ways to shut down abortion clinics, including bombing. Leach, who published the manual in 1996 in his magazine, Prayer and Action News, said he would cover the pages containing bomb recipes.

The prison recipes were being donated by Shelley Shannon, the Oregon woman who shot and wounded Tiller in 1993 and later was convicted in a series of abortion clinic arsons and bombings.

Dinwiddie, who made headlines in 1995 when a federal judge ordered her to stop using a bullhorn within 500 feet of abortion clinics, planned to donate an autographed bullhorn similar to those she used when protesting.

Roeder’s ex-wife, Lindsey Roeder, said she was thrilled the auction was being rejected. She said she contacted eBay on Monday to voice her concerns.

“I believe that this auction could incite more violence on abortion clinics and doctors,” she wrote in an e-mail to eBay. “I do not believe that canceling this auction will in any way hinder Scott’s right to an adequate defense, as he has a good team of public defenders.”

In his letter to eBay, Thompson said that any proceeds of the auction should go to the Kansas Crime Victims Compensation Board. Such proceeds, he said, would come under the provision of the Son of Sam law in Kansas, which was designed to keep those charged with crimes from profiting from their actions.

It its statement, eBay said, “we do not allow items that encourage, promote, facilitate or instruct others to engage in illegal activity and will not be a platform for those who promote violence toward others.”

Leach said eBay’s policy was ambiguous.

“They won’t allow anything that glorifies violence, they say. Wasn’t World War II a bit violent?” he said. “Doesn’t eBay do a brisk business in books and artifacts that glorify the U.S. role in it? Isn’t the Bible sold on eBay? I can’t even imagine how eBay could rewrite its policy in a way that targets us without targeting a huge slice of its customers.”

---

Inside
Mike Hendricks: Supporters see Scott Roeder as a modern John Brown | A4

To reach Judy L. Thomas, call 816-234-4334 or send e-mail to jthomas@kcstar.com.

© 2009 Kansas City Star and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. http://www.kansascity.com

Comments:

• ScoJo77 wrote on 10/28/2009 2:48:48 AM:

  Ebay taking down an auction is not a "violation of the first amendment". The constitution is about laws, not private business policies...ebay's not some public forum. Your 1st amendment right to say whatever you want (as long as you're not conducting yourself in a way that infringes on others' rights) without going to jail for it, is 100% intact. But if eBay doesn't want it, that's their right.
  
  Think of it this way: Would you say the same thing if the local AMC theater refused to run your home movies?
  
  But what do you expect, these people think EXACTLY like terrorists. They believe their personal self-righteous agenda is backed up by God and they have the right to kill people - and ironically because they believe their victims are killers themselves. Name ONE thing that separates the two ideologies. You can't. They're NUTS.

• JayDubIII wrote on 10/28/2009 5:05:42 AM:

  Thank god we live in America where common sense was used to end this debacle. I applaud eBay for doing what was right.

  
  
• 
  flaps10 wrote on 10/28/2009 6:44:15 AM:

  Gosh, who wouldn't want an autographed Regina Dinwiddie bullhorn?

  
  
• 
  mahtigwess wrote on 10/28/2009 6:46:10 AM:

  “They’re not only chilling the First Amendment of the Constitution, they’re raping the whole Constitution,” said Regina Dinwiddie, a Kansas City abortion opponent and friend of Roeder.
  
  Yes, but will it be able to get an abortion if the rape results in pregnancy?

  
  
• 
  Animal wrote on 10/28/2009 6:49:54 AM:

  If you need to reach out to your fellow believers for money it says volumes. Where are his friends and why won't they put up their houses, monies of their own or maybe their first born? Apparently Roeder does not have enough behind him to help. Could it be now that most in the cause would like to forget his name and what he did.

  
  
• 
  Tenbeers wrote on 10/28/2009 7:18:11 AM:

  Kindof a no brainer but Ebay still sucks

  
  
• 
  RxBxtr wrote on 10/28/2009 7:19:57 AM:

  Congrats to eBay for refusing this auction. To equate an offer of books discussing the history of World War II with selling materials that advocate violence and support the illegal murder of doctors is ludicrous. It's reassuring to know this group of wackos won't have the forum of eBay to promote their message of violence. And I'd suggest Regina Dinwiddie take another read of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Nowhere in those documents does it say a private business is obligated to allow nutcases like her to exercise their freedom of speech on its forum.

  
  
• 
  bugler wrote on 10/28/2009 7:33:17 AM:

  Dear Dimwitted, I am mean dinwiddle. Learn what the constitution says before you go wrapping yourself up in its protections. The bill of rights prevents the government from infringing on your rights. It does not determine what a private company can do in regards to its rights.

  
  
• 
  Singapore_Royals_Fan wrote on 10/28/2009 7:33:39 AM:

  I am so glad I moved away from Kansas, what a bunch of lunatics. No different and NO better than Al Qaeda...

• crs wrote on 10/28/2009 7:33:42 AM:

  So are they gonna protest and bomb ebay now until they get their way?

  
  
• 
  Singapore_Royals_Fan wrote on 10/28/2009 7:39:38 AM:

  Unfortunately they are too cowardly to suicide bomb....

  
  
• 
  Singapore_Royals_Fan wrote on 10/28/2009 7:41:21 AM:

  Can you bomb the internet?

  
  
• 
  AZZOne wrote on 10/28/2009 7:42:23 AM:

  Poor delusional Regina. Good for eBay for refusing her and her ilk to manipulate private enterprise.

  
  
• 
  tketcher wrote on 10/28/2009 7:43:45 AM:

  I would donate to a fund that would put this murdering fanatic's execution on National TV. From the Article: The prison recipes were being donated by Shelley Shannon, the Oregon woman who shot and wounded Tiller in 1993 and later was convicted in a series of abortion clinic arsons and bombings. This is another one of these Murderers that should be on Death Row. She was sentenced to 11 years in prison. Until one of these Morons gets capped, These Cowards will continue to breed. WWJD ? These Coward hide behind Religion for their own desires. Taliban/Abortion Protestors. They are all the same. Take your twisted religious views and move to IRAN. You would be right at home.

  
  
• 
  hajkar wrote on 10/28/2009 7:47:09 AM:

  Singapore_Royals_Fan wrote:
  
  "I am so glad I moved away from Kansas, what a bunch of lunatics. No different and NO better than Al Qaeda..."
  
  The man organizing this aborted auction is not from Kansas.

  
  
• 
  thurss wrote on 10/28/2009 8:13:20 AM:

  “They’re not only chilling the First Amendment of the Constitution, they’re raping the whole Constitution,” said Regina Dinwiddie, a Kansas City abortion opponent and friend of Roeder.
  
  This statement shows how little the radical pro-lifers know the constitution (I use radical so i am NOT lumping all pro-lifers together)
  
  The constitution allows you to express your opinions not force them on other people. The law states abortion is legal. You have to deal with it. To force another business to follow an anti-abortion ideology is specifically what the constitution PROTECTS.
  
  So E-bay does not have to give you a reason. NO is all they have to say.
  
  Also there is a major difference in a historical reference on WWII and a how to book for abortion fighters.
  
  Read another book you nut jobs!!!

  
  
• 
  NoYouDont wrote on 10/28/2009 8:16:24 AM:

  NoYouDont's comment is abusive and has been removed.

  
  
• 
  ajm wrote on 10/28/2009 8:40:51 AM:

  Dave Leach,Regina Dinwiddie - sell your homes, cars and if lucky go bankrupt in the process. Good for EBay saying no to radical pro-lifers.

  
  
• 
  KCJB wrote on 10/28/2009 9:46:49 AM:

  WTG Ebay!

• jayhawk6 wrote on 10/28/2009 10:02:42 AM:

  Yeah, obsessive types like Dinwiddie lose any common sense they might have had when it comes to setbacks for their cause.
  ebay has no obligation to accept their items for sale, nor does the refusal deny her freedom of speech.
  She should be aware of the maxim that when one lies down dog, (s)he gets up with fleas.
  Scott Roeder appears to be a bit demented and murdered somebody at a church service. If she doesn't mind being tarred with that brush, then she should carry on.
  But rather than carrying posters depicting fetuses or using a bullhorn to disturb the peace, her energy might be put to better use promoting effective methods of birth control to avoid unexpected or unwanted pregnancies in the first place.

  
  
• 
  superacidjax wrote on 10/28/2009 10:33:26 AM:

  You also can't sell Nazi stuff on eBay or artwork from death row prisoners.. eBay is being consistent and these terrorists should not be allowed to raise money. If Osama wanted to sell terrorist manuals on eBay to raise legal defense money for Gitmo detainees, that would be prohibited as well. eBay has no obligation to allow terrorist organizations to sell things on their site. After all, ebay is not a government organization and they have no obligation to do anything for anyone. No one has a "right" to sell things on ebay any more than anyone has a "right" to have a story printed in the Star.

  
  
• 
  Chapeau wrote on 10/28/2009 10:48:15 AM:

  This fruit-loop, right-wing, conservative, cross burning, white sheet wearing, KKK, Nazi book burning wacko should be hung today! And, very slowly...
  
  I will not pray for his soul, because he sold it to the Devil who awaits him to burn in Hell for ever.

  
  
• 
  iknowstuff2 wrote on 10/28/2009 10:56:22 AM:

  Odd how this clown walks into a place of worship and murders a man in cold blood then his "supporters" start leaning (incorrectly) on the US constitution as a basis to claim somebody civil rights are being violated. Opinion about whether or not abortion is right or wrong is just that, opinion. But the FACT is today it is legal and murdering a man with a gun is illegal. Those are facts. Like'em or not those are facts as it stands today. So I'd be interested in hearing this lady's comments about Tiller's act relative to the US constitution.

  
  
• 
  ScoJo77 wrote on 10/28/2009 10:58:12 AM:

  Ebay has nothing to do with "freedom of speech". They are a private corporation. Nobody's getting "arrested" or "oppressed". You are free to say whatever wackjob thing you want without fear of prosecution. That doesn't mean ebay has to let you use their servers to say it. Duh.

  
  
• 
  thebaboon9 wrote on 10/28/2009 11:08:26 AM:

  Good for Ebay, leave the scum in a cage where he belongs.

  
  
• 
  thurss wrote on 10/28/2009 11:31:40 AM:

  buffman316 When has EBay raised money for abortions or abortion clinics ? How are they hate speech ? When have they encouraged to hurt or kill people ?
  
  They are private business and do not have to put up with any of the BS. It is thier constitutional right (to quote some people)
  
  Quit trying to stretch the truth to fit your ideology.

  
  
• 
  countofcork wrote on 10/28/2009 11:50:23 AM:

  buffman316 isn't there something called "Corporate America" in this country and the 1st Amendment doesn't apply to them. They have a right to refuse any customer they wish. Or perhaps you have not seen the signs that say "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service" Get real you dimwit

  
  
• 
  teresant wrote on 10/28/2009 11:52:01 AM:

  If people would mind their own business, abortion wouldn't be an issue. How about using your anger to help women in need instead of spreading hate to future generations?

• JayDubIII wrote on 10/28/2009 12:22:55 PM:

  Have you ever had one of those day when you get up to check out the news and you read something like this and you go around all day with this big ear to ear grin knowing Regina and her band of zealots has been denied this attempted fiasco.
  
  Even better is reading all the whining, bitching and moaning about the Constitution, free speech etc blah blah blah.
  
  God don't you love living in America.

  
  
• 
  C_B wrote on 10/28/2009 12:23:44 PM:

  EBay is actually a public company but your point still remains valid, ScoJo77.
  
  The First Amendment says that "CONGRESS shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech." "Congress" today means "government" (fed, state, & local), which in turn, means an infringement on the freedom of speech MUST involve some governmental action. Anyone who claims this circumstance constitutes a violation of one's freedom of speech most likely has never actually read the First Amendment. I would love to hear the legal argument purporting to establish that EBay (a non-governmental private actor) and its adherence to its well-established corporate policies of denying certain material constitutes a "governmental action."
  
  Before invoking the Constitution to save you from all you perceive as unjust, try reading it.

  
  
• 
  JayDubIII wrote on 10/28/2009 12:24:23 PM:

  Hey buffman316. Man it must suck to be you.

  
  
• 
  JayDubIII wrote on 10/28/2009 12:28:43 PM:

  ScoJo77. Good point. The KC Star gives these fringe lunatics all the free press them want to spew their hate and venom.

  
  
• 
  tgrowney wrote on 10/28/2009 12:30:10 PM:

  The way I see it, they are both killers. One guy killed one person, the other killed thousands. End of story

  
  
• 
  Fenris wrote on 10/28/2009 12:48:43 PM:

  You might see them both as killers, but one way is legal and the other way is illegal. End of story

  
  
• 
  rgh wrote on 10/28/2009 12:50:22 PM:

  I'm glad to hear e-bay did the right thing. I'm not advocating abortion, but I've also walked in those shoes and chose life as a teenager. I am "pro-choice" simply because I made that decision and would have been the one to have lived with it. The vast majority of Christians who are pro life are also caring individuals who will speak out, but do so rationally and not radically.
  
  The radical pro life people like Roeder who chose to murder and innocent person as he attended a place of worship with his family inside the church will face his maker. Why would he even need funds? He has pro life legal support as it is and they won't charge him for doing what they probably felt was the right thing to do.

  
  
• 
  Animal wrote on 10/28/2009 12:51:41 PM:

  His looks in court along with his mannerisms are showing a man that is more than capable of lashing out. Not in any form but that of anger and vengence. He has put himself in a no win situation as he has no defense for his actions that are seriously worth consideration. And Dinwiddie, needs a bullhorn for the rason she is talking out of her cornhole anyway.

  
  
• 
  GoBlue wrote on 10/28/2009 1:14:34 PM:

  Need money for his defense? What defense?! He walked into a church with hundreds of witnesses, and shot a man in the head, point blank range. What the f--- is his defense? He murdered - in cold-blood - a man performing LEGAL and CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED abortions?!
  
  Skip the waste in tax-payer money, lets have the hanging tomorrow

• agf61 wrote on 10/28/2009 1:43:59 PM:

  ebay can let people sell what they want, and refuse to let people sell what they don't want, as long as they don't violate existing laws while doing it. The rest is just noise.

  
  
• 
  mileswms wrote on 10/28/2009 2:14:58 PM:

  Wonder if they would accept an auction the help the prosecution and if so where do we donate items?

  
  
• 
  jmgage2146 wrote on 10/28/2009 2:18:50 PM:

  Glad to see the voice of reason prevailing on this thread. Maybe the religious, single-issue holier-than-thou zealots are starting to get the message that that way of thinking (anit-abortion extremism) is socially and legally unacceptable and intolerable. Their supporters seem to be becoming more and more diminished as time goes on.

  
  
• 
  Vegas2112 wrote on 10/28/2009 3:28:26 PM:

  tgrowney wrote:
  The way I see it, they are both killers. One guy killed one person, the other killed thousands. End of story
  =================================================
  
  Your story is not based in reality.
  
  The "way you see it," reflects your subjective and biased opinion. It has nothing to do with the rule of law.
  
  And since we live in a country ruled by law, what we have here is an assassin in Roeder, and an individual who was assassinated, for performing a legal medical procedure.
  
  You can call it "killing babies," "killing children," etc. It doesn't change the fact that you are on the wrong side of the law.
  
  Can we all assume that you contribute your time and resources to helping disadvantaged children -- you know, the kind that have actually been born?

  
  
• 
  GoBlue wrote on 10/28/2009 6:08:09 PM:

  'Can we all assume that you contribute your time and resources to helping disadvantaged children -- you know, the kind that have actually been born?'
  
  Simply love that line!
  I have asked many pro-lifers if they had saved any babies from abortion by way of adoption. Still waiting on a yes response.

  
  
• 
  DaveLeach wrote on 10/28/2009 10:28:57 PM:

  If God loves all, why is it hard to grasp why Bible verses like Pro 24:10-12 would call us to rescue those being unjustly slaughtered? How can the innocent live, unless those who murder them are stopped? Should we have no police? No courts? No laws?
  
  Laws mean to protect good and restrain evil. It would be absurd for any law to expressly intend great harm. Mark 3:4. In situations where enforcement of the letter of a law would cause harm, the spirit of the law would be violated by enforcement, which is suspended by the Necessity Defense.
  
  This is Scott Roeder's defense. It would be absurd to interpret Roe v. Wade as expressly intending genocide. Yet Roe said "the judiciary...is not in a position to speculate" on whether the millions of unborn slain at its direction are human beings. Roe said if triers of fact determine that they are, Roe should "collapse".
  
  Lower courts violate Roe by deciding the fact question which Roe said no judge is qualified to decide. (Cont'd)

  
  
• 
  DaveLeach wrote on 10/28/2009 10:31:00 PM:

  (Cont'd from previous post) ... the judges say they can't recognize abortion as harming human beings because it is legal. Besides that, judges decide this fact question by themselves, before the trial begins, and order defendants not to say a word about their defense, and the only contested trial issue, to the jury, even though they tell juries THEY are judges of the facts.
  
  Nothing can be more illegal than what courts have done all these years to keep abortion "legal".
  
  Our goal is an end to violence against abortionists, and against babies, through restoring the Constitutional Right to Trial by Jury, even in abortion prevention cases.
  
  Abortionist attorney Lee Thompson's successful intimidation of eBay is aimed at denying Roeder access to the counsel of his choice.

  
  
• 
  GoBlue wrote on 10/28/2009 10:44:30 PM:

  David, your sorry posts illuminates why I am so very thankful our fore fathers were smart enough to write separation of church and state into our Constitution.
  
  Nothing more illegal than keep abortion legal? Wow!! Simply wow!!
  You know what's illegal -morally and by the laws of our land? Walking into a church (oh the irony) and shooting a man in his head at point blank range! THAT is illegal! THAT is cold-blooded murder! And THAT should warrant the death penalty!
  
  I don't believe in your church, I in fact, MORALLY OPPOSE IT!!! However, that does not give me the right to walk into it and kill its congregation. THAT would be illegal!! You sick scum

• Vegas2112 wrote on 10/28/2009 10:48:46 PM:

  Dave Leach:
  If you want to establish your own version of the Taliban, you may do so in another country.
  
  Your goal to end violence on "babies", should be directed to the poor, not to a clump of cells.

  
  
• 
  GoBlue wrote on 10/28/2009 11:05:06 PM:

  Yeah, Vegas, think we both can guarantee that David hasn't saved a baby from abortion through adoption, or taking care of any disadvantaged children.

  
  
• 
  GoBlue wrote on 10/28/2009 11:07:29 PM:

  meant to add.....
  
  he's just too busy professing hate and encouraging terrorist actions with-in our own Country

  
  
• 
  ekhym wrote on 10/28/2009 11:13:37 PM:

  Dimwittie needs to go back and restudy her civics. This is a private company. The First Amendment Free Speech protections only apply to governments. Companies can and do deny access to voices and speech they find offensive and are well within their rights to do so.

  
  
• 
  agf61 wrote on 10/29/2009 1:37:57 AM:

  Some people think war is immoral. Doesn't mean they get to murder all the soldiers in order to stop war.