Harassing Dr. Karlin

"A tall man is walking up and down the block" carrying a sign, reports contributing writer Kate Loftus. One side holds the image of an 18-week-old fetus; the other reads, "Abortion exploits women and kills children." He is picketing the home of Dr. Elizabeth Karlin, a first-trimester abortion provider, on Madison's near west side. "They want to punish my neighbors for...not kicking me out of this neighborhood," says Karlin, who hopes the Madison Common Council will pass an ordinance to prohibit picketing individual homes. The following Tuesday, the Common Council rejects the proposed ban. Karlin continues to provide abortion services but dies of a brain tumor in 1998.