Anti-Abortion Movement Gains Momentum
Recently, a dozen anti-abortion supporters were arrested for protesting outside of Nancy Pelosi’s office. Those arrested were the followers of Randall Terry and Father Norman Weslin, who are prominent anti-choice activists.
Today, one protester outside the Capitol targeted President Obama as a “fascist” that “will force Americans to pay for abortions and for government-provided health care.” This protester was from the group Insurrecta Nex, which follows Terry, who is described as a “militant anti-abortion leader.”
This is not true! First of all, there will be no government dollars going towards abortion and Americans will not be paying more for a public option. The public option will be there, but that does not mean you have to give up your existing coverage.
Also, government measures like Medicaid and Medicare are existing programs that have taken American tax dollars. This is not a new concept.
In the blog I am Emily X, the staff of Planned Parenthood recounted the 40 days of protests by the 40 Days for Life campaign. On the 40th day there were 1,034 protesters spotted outside of Planned Parenthood facilities nationally. Planned Parenthood supporters raised $56,048 against the 40 day protest movement.
Anti-abortionists are making health care reform a negative thing. The point of reforming the health care system is providing health insurance to more people, and that health insurance should cover abortion just like existing private insurance plans.
40 Days: An Anti-Abortion Recipe
Planned Parenthood clinics across the nation have seen anti-choice protesters in high volumes due to the 40 Days for Life campaign. This organization sees abortion as “evil,” and their mission is to use protest, prayer and fasting, and constant vigil to put an end to abortions.
The campaign uses the number 40 as symbolism for the 40 days of rain God brought to Noah and Moses’ 40 days on the mountain. The group wants to rid the world of abortion in 40 days, which is promoted in this campaign video.
The message of closing Planned Parenthood facilities is even more promoted on their website that applauds the closing of a Montana clinic, as an answer to their prayers from God.
They have caused quite a stir and Planned Parenthood has created a blog, I am Emily X, in response. Planned Parenthood workers and activists report the experiences of patients who have seen protesters at clinics across America.
One blog post discusses the vulnerability of a patient at an Idaho clinic, who called Planned Parenthood very upset by yelling protesters. As a patient, you are going to Planned Parenthood to receive care that you that you might already feel worried about and to have someone harassing you outside of a facility would make you even more uncomfortable.
In a post from Washington, a patient told a Planned Parenthood staffer, “I would never protest at their church, never.” The staffer said she didn’t identify Planned Parenthood as a “church,” but what the patient had said really struck her. Planned Parenthood is an organization that has the faith and value of providing reproductive rights to women.
Everyone has the right to free speech, but when a woman is labeled as “good” or “evil” for going to Planned Parenthood that is not justified. That is only speculation. A female patient could be going to Planned Parenthood to get a pregnancy test, find out her options, and not to get an abortion.
Medi-Gal 