Planned Parenthood Activists in 33 Cities Will Demonstrate Thursday, March 9, in National Day of Solidarity
For Immediate Release: Jan. 30, 2014
Protests Focused on South Dakota Law and 10 Other States Considering Abortion Bans
WASHINGTON, DC — Today Planned Parenthood supporters in an estimated 33 cities across the country will rally to denounce the assault on reproductive health care in South Dakota and 10 other states that are considering criminalizing abortion. Across the country, family planning activists are protesting these attacks on women and families, and calling for increased support for pregnancy prevention programs.
Demonstrations will be held in cities nationwide, including Washington, DC, Sioux Falls, SD, Nashville, TN, Omaha, NE and Salt Lake City, UT.
On Tuesday, South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds (R) signed legislation criminalizing abortion in South Dakota. Planned Parenthood has announced it will fight the law. South Dakota's abortion ban is not an isolated incident. In addition to repeated attempts by state legislatures to chip away at access to abortion, birth control and other reproductive health care services, 10 states are currently considering sweeping bans that would criminalize abortion (AL, GA, IN, KY, MO, MS, OH, OK, TN, WV).
"Access to birth control is a proven tool to prevent unintended pregnancy — abortion bans are not," said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. "Across the nation, we are standing up for the women and families who rely on Planned Parenthood for reproductive health care. We are the frontline of the battle to protect women's health. We will fight these abortion bans to protect the health and safety of the patients we serve."
Across the country, hard line politicians are creating a gauntlet of legislation that puts roadblocks between women and reproductive health care, including birth control, medically accurate sex education, and other services. This year 850 pieces of legislation relating to women's reproductive health have been introduced nationwide, only a small minority of which support access to health care services.
"Ever since Gov. Rounds signed this ban, people across the country have been calling Planned Parenthood in shock, fear, and outrage," said Richards. "The outpouring of support has been overwhelming: from women who remember life before Roe, to college students at the beginning of their reproductive years. America is standing up for all women's fundamental right to make private, personal health care decisions — we will not give these decisions over to politicians."
For a complete list of demonstrations please contact 202-973-4975.