Supporters of suspected Tiller killer defy ban, try to hold benefit auction on eBay

Monday morning, eBay took down the items

? Online auction house eBay has removed items that were posted for sale by anti-abortion activists trying to raise money for defense of a man accused of killing a Kansas abortion provider, the company said Monday.

Supporters of Scott Roeder — one in Kansas City, Mo., and the other in Des Moines, Iowa — posted various items late Sunday in separate eBay auctions including an Army of God manual, an underground publication for anti-abortion militants that describes ways to shut down clinics.

After about five hours, eBay removed 10 items, activists said. The final two items were removed by late Monday afternoon.

San Jose, Calif.-based eBay said the anti-abortion memorabilia violated its listing polices.

“Today, eBay removed several listings on our site that violated several of our policies including our offensive materials’ policy. This policy prohibits items that promote or glorify hatred, violence, racial, sexual, or religious intolerance, or promote organizations with such views,” eBay said in a statement. The company would not say how many or which items it removed.

Roeder is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated assault in the May 31 shooting of Dr. George Tiller at his Wichita church. Anti-abortion activists are trying to raise money for Roeder, who has been appointed public defenders but was considering hiring private lawyers. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.