American Notes ATLANTA

The plan was to lodge a protest during the Democratic National Convention, accept a pro forma arrest and then return home to such cities as New York, Philadelphia and St. Louis. But last week more than 200 antiabortion demonstrators, including many of the 134 seized last month, remained in Atlanta and Fulton County jails. They had stalled processing by giving their names as "Baby Jane Doe" or "Baby John Doe," after the nameless victims of abortions.

The protesters insisted that Atlanta authorities had reneged on an agreement not to press charges of trespassing after the activists blocked access to an abortion clinic. Their sympathizers held new demonstrations, and more arrests followed. The Rev. Jerry Falwell flew to Atlanta to give a $10,000 check to Operation Rescue, the group that organized the protest. Falwell said he might return to get arrested; if he does, his identity should not be difficult to determine.