Planned Parenthood expansion draws protests in Tri-Cities
by
Jordan Shefte
Story Created:
Sep 29, 2011 at 5:56 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Sep 29, 2011 at 6:18 PM CDT
It's a self-proclaimed leader in educating Americans about reproductive and sexual health. Planned Parenthood operates nearly 800 clinics across the country.
And they have tentative plans to expand into the Tri-cities area, but it's a move that some clearly don't support.
News 5's Jordan Shefte was at a protest in Kearney Thursday to find out why these residents disapprove of the clinic.
They say that it is a sex business that preys on the young people of every community it enters.
By protesting, they are hoping that Central Nebraska, won't be one of those communities.
Planned Parenthood says it provided reproductive health care to nearly 75,000 patients last year. But those opposed to the organization, say it's not health care at all.
"It is a sex business preying primarily on our children," said American Life League Vice President Jim Sedlak.
Planned Parenthood plans to move into the Tri-cities area. It is an announcement that prompted action from pro-life organizations, primarily because of the abortion services that are offered.
"Planned Parenthood runs the largest abortion chain in the nation, they have over 300 facilities that do abortions, and according to their numbers in 2009 they performed 332,287 abortions in their own facility," said Sedlak.
"They really have a philosophy of intruding in the parent child relationship, and we have great concern for that," said Nebraska Right to Life President Sandy Danek.
In a statement provided by Planned Parenthood, they said: "ore than 97% of the services we provide are preventive. Extreme fringe organizations against Planned Parenthood are against legal abortion; opposing less than 3% of the services we provide."
Opponents say the facts, tell a different story.
"40% of their income is due to abortions. It's not 3%. Uh so however they count the numbers to come up with their 3%, what they're trying to do is they're trying to downplay the importance of abortion to their business," said Sedlak.
It is something that leaves opponents, uneasy.
"People are very nervous about the prospect of planned parenthood coming into their community," Danek said.
Planned Parenthood said its goal is to build 12 new health centers throughout Iowa and Nebraska.
No definite decisions on new locations will be made until it's reached its fundraising goals.
Most Popular