For those interested, a rally is scheduled for the late Dr. George Tiller at Chicago's Thompson Center at 4 p.m. this afternoon. (If you know of any other events elsewhere in the state, please leave the details in the comments section.)  One of the last doctors in the country to perform late-term abortions, Tiller was shot and killed in Wichita, KS over the weekend while standing in the foyer of his church.  The American Prospect's Ann Friedman wrote yesterday that the murder of this abortion rights activist represents the "culmination of an ongoing campaign of intimidation and harassment against someone who was providing completely legal health-care services."  Be sure to read Gloria Feldt's response on Salon as well.

State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, who is currently exploring a bid for U.S. Senate, released the following statement yesterday:

“I am saddened by the news that Dr. George Tiller was murdered this morning while attending church services.  Regardless of anyone’s views of this difficult subject, we can all agree that violence should never be the solution to differences over policy. 

“For the past 30 years, dozens of clinics have been bombed, hundreds more set on fire and thousands of medical professionals and patients harassed.  A woman’s right to choose must not only be protected by the law, but also protected from those who violently and tragically break those laws.”