Emily Lyons
Encyclopedia
Emily Lyons is an American nurse who was gravely injured when Eric Robert Rudolph
bombed an abortion clinic
in Birmingham, Alabama
, where she worked. She was a prominent figure during Rudolph's trial and sentencing, and has also become an activist for abortion rights.
. She received a degree in nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham
, with a focus on reproductive health
, after which she worked in various nursing fields and locations, and taught nursing at the University of Arkansas at Monticello
. At the time of the bombing, she was director of nursing at the New Woman All Women Clinic in Birmingham, having originally answered an advertisement for a part-time nurse.
The morning of January 29, 1998, Lyons was approaching the clinic, when Robert Sanderson, a security guard, bent to inspect an unfamiliar potted plant in the front yard. The flowerpot contained a remote-controlled nail bomb
, which exploded and killed Sanderson immediately. Lyons was severely injured: one eye was destroyed and the other damaged, her hand was mangled, a hole was torn in her abdomen that necessitated the removal of 10 inches of her intestines, and most of the flesh was blown off her legs and hand. She was badly burned, her leg was shattered, and shrapnel and nails are permanently buried in her body. Lyons spent eight weeks in the hospital, and has had over twenty surgeries; she currently uses a wheelchair and has poor hearing and eyesight. She does not remember the blast.
Lyons and her husband, Jeff, were the focus of media attention after Rudolph's capture: Lyons expressed a hope of speaking to him and letting him know that he "failed." Lyons initially wanted Rudolph to receive life imprisonment
or the death penalty, but during the trial, spoke to news sources about her wish that he receive the death penalty and strongly objected to a plea deal. When Rudolph pled guilty and received life in prison, Lyons was "extremely disappointed" that he would not be put to death, but noted that other lives could be saved because Rudolph had revealed where he had hidden explosives.
(RICO) to anti-abortion terrorists, and has spoken in other venues in support of the right to an abortion.
In 2005, Lyons appeared in a controversial advertisement opposing the nomination to the Supreme Court
of John G. Roberts, who seven years before the bombing had filed a brief opposing the prosecution of abortion clinic blockaders under the federal Ku Klux Klan Act. Those who advocated the use of the Act argued that the obstruction of access to abortion clinics violated the civil rights of women, and thus fell within the Act's purview; Roberts, then Deputy Solicitor General, had argued that the protesters were only trespassing and should be prosecuted under state law rather than federal law. The ad contained images of the bombing, and claimed that Roberts supported Eric Rudolph and excused anti-abortion violence. Lyons spoke at NARAL Pro-Choice America
's press conference opposing the Roberts nomination. She also spoke in opposition to the nomination of Samuel Alito
.
Lyons is the recipient of Planned Parenthood
's Margaret Sanger Woman of Valor Award and the Ms. Foundation's Gloria Award.
, whose title comes from threats and hate mail
Lyons received telling her that she would go to hell. Becoming Emily, a dance piece, is also based on her story.
Eric Robert Rudolph
Eric Robert Rudolph , also known as the Olympic Park Bomber, is a criminal responsible for a series of bombings across the southern United States between 1996 and 1998, which killed two people and injured at least 150 others in the name of an anti-abortion and anti-gay agenda...
bombed an abortion clinic
Abortion clinic
An abortion clinic is a medical facility that primarily performs or specializes in abortions. Such clinics may be public medical centers or private medical practices.-Canada:*There were 197 abortion providers in Canada in 2001....
in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, where she worked. She was a prominent figure during Rudolph's trial and sentencing, and has also become an activist for abortion rights.
Bombing
Lyons was born in 1956 in Montgomery, AlabamaMontgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
. She received a degree in nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Alabama at Birmingham
The University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public university in Birmingham in the U.S. state of Alabama. Developing from an extension center established in 1936, the institution became an autonomous institution in 1969 and is today one of three institutions in the University of Alabama System...
, with a focus on reproductive health
Reproductive health
Within the framework of the World Health Organization's definition of health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, reproductive health, or sexual health/hygiene, addresses the reproductive processes, functions and system...
, after which she worked in various nursing fields and locations, and taught nursing at the University of Arkansas at Monticello
University of Arkansas at Monticello
The University of Arkansas at Monticello is a public university and college for vocational and technical education located in Monticello, Arkansas, United States....
. At the time of the bombing, she was director of nursing at the New Woman All Women Clinic in Birmingham, having originally answered an advertisement for a part-time nurse.
The morning of January 29, 1998, Lyons was approaching the clinic, when Robert Sanderson, a security guard, bent to inspect an unfamiliar potted plant in the front yard. The flowerpot contained a remote-controlled nail bomb
Nail bomb
The nail bomb is an anti-personnel explosive device packed with nails to increase its wounding ability. The nails act as shrapnel, leading almost certainly to greater loss of life and injury in inhabited areas than the explosives alone would. The nail bomb is also a type of flechette weapon...
, which exploded and killed Sanderson immediately. Lyons was severely injured: one eye was destroyed and the other damaged, her hand was mangled, a hole was torn in her abdomen that necessitated the removal of 10 inches of her intestines, and most of the flesh was blown off her legs and hand. She was badly burned, her leg was shattered, and shrapnel and nails are permanently buried in her body. Lyons spent eight weeks in the hospital, and has had over twenty surgeries; she currently uses a wheelchair and has poor hearing and eyesight. She does not remember the blast.
Lyons and her husband, Jeff, were the focus of media attention after Rudolph's capture: Lyons expressed a hope of speaking to him and letting him know that he "failed." Lyons initially wanted Rudolph to receive life imprisonment
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
or the death penalty, but during the trial, spoke to news sources about her wish that he receive the death penalty and strongly objected to a plea deal. When Rudolph pled guilty and received life in prison, Lyons was "extremely disappointed" that he would not be put to death, but noted that other lives could be saved because Rudolph had revealed where he had hidden explosives.
Activism
Lyons has said that the bombing "flipped a switch in [her] mind," changing her from a quiet person into an outspoken activist. In 1998, she testified before Congress in support of applying the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations ActRacketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly referred to as the RICO Act or simply RICO, is a United States federal law that provides for extended criminal penalties and a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization...
(RICO) to anti-abortion terrorists, and has spoken in other venues in support of the right to an abortion.
In 2005, Lyons appeared in a controversial advertisement opposing the nomination to the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
of John G. Roberts, who seven years before the bombing had filed a brief opposing the prosecution of abortion clinic blockaders under the federal Ku Klux Klan Act. Those who advocated the use of the Act argued that the obstruction of access to abortion clinics violated the civil rights of women, and thus fell within the Act's purview; Roberts, then Deputy Solicitor General, had argued that the protesters were only trespassing and should be prosecuted under state law rather than federal law. The ad contained images of the bombing, and claimed that Roberts supported Eric Rudolph and excused anti-abortion violence. Lyons spoke at NARAL Pro-Choice America
NARAL Pro-Choice America
NARAL Pro-Choice America , formerly the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws, then National Abortion Rights Action League, and later National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, is an organization in the United States that engages in political action to oppose...
's press conference opposing the Roberts nomination. She also spoke in opposition to the nomination of Samuel Alito
Samuel Alito
Samuel Anthony Alito, Jr. is an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. He was nominated by President George W. Bush and has served on the court since January 31, 2006....
.
Lyons is the recipient of Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood Federation of America , commonly shortened to Planned Parenthood, is the U.S. affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and one of its larger members. PPFA is a non-profit organization providing reproductive health and maternal and child health services. The...
's Margaret Sanger Woman of Valor Award and the Ms. Foundation's Gloria Award.
Media
Lyons's experiences formed part of the 2006 documentary Lake of FireLake of Fire (film)
Lake of Fire is a 2006 documentary film that graphically depicts abortion in the United States. It features Noam Chomsky, Peter Singer, Alan Dershowitz, Nat Hentoff and Randall Terry....
, whose title comes from threats and hate mail
Hate mail
Hate mail is a form of harassment, usually consisting of invective and potentially intimidating or threatening comments towards the recipient...
Lyons received telling her that she would go to hell. Becoming Emily, a dance piece, is also based on her story.