Saturday was the fifth anniversary of the murder of Dr. George Tiller.

Dr. Tiller, an exceptionally skilled and compassionate provider of abortion care, was shot and killed by a so-called pro-life activist on a Sunday morning while serving as an usher at his church in Wichita, Kan.

Dr. David Gunn, the first provider of abortion care murdered by a so-called pro-life activist, died in 1993. Six other people have also been murdered by “pro-life” supporters.

People opposed to women’s autonomy and reproductive human rights call themselves pro-life and feel justified foisting their personal religious values upon the majority of people who do not share them.

Some of them even consider murder justifiable to advance their personal beliefs.

Other “pro-life” supporters feel justified harassing and assaulting women on public sidewalks. They think their personal views about abortion have greater value than the values of personal freedom and individual liberty.

Maine is a pro-choice state because we trust Maine women.

We trust Maine women who are perfectly capable of making their own moral and responsible choices in the face of circumstances that they know best.

We trust Maine women, and we applaud abortion providers who are there to support women and provide us with safe and compassionate medical care.

I appreciate providers of abortion care who risk their lives to support human rights and reproductive justice, but this year, I also mourn the loss of Dr. George Tiller, murdered five years ago, by a pro-life supporter.

Nancy A. Foss

Portland