As a part of the Hoos for Life rally, the Planned Parenthood Project came to Grounds Wednesday to campaign for the defunding of Planned Parenthood.
The group falls under the umbrella of the national organization Students for Life. The University is one of five colleges the pro-life groups are visiting during a week-long bus tour. As a part of the larger Planned Parenthood Project, the groups plan to visit over 80 colleges around the nation by the middle of November.
The event included multiple government speakers including: Senator Mark Obenshain, Senator Bryce Reeves, Senator Jill Vogel and Senator Steve Newman. Small pink crosses were planted in the grass at the Amphitheater, where the rally was held, to represent the 897 abortions carried out by Planned Parenthood each day. Supporters of the campaign also signed the Planned Parenthood Project bus to show their support.
University Democrats President Porter Koolman, a College fourth-year, responded to the rally saying although this is a sensitive topic and everyone is entitled to his or her own opinions, he and his organization are frustrated by the claims being made. All funds used by Planned Parenthood for abortion services come from private donations as opposed to taxpayer funds, Koolman said — a change in effect since 1976.
“Taking taxpayer dollars away from Planned Parenthood doesn’t affect their ability at all to hand out abortions,” Koolman said. “What it does do is it takes away the screenings, and pre-family planning, and the birth control access, and general medical access for millions of people in America — men and women.”
Arina Grossu, director for the Center for Human Dignity in the Family Research Council was one of the Planned Parenthood Project’s representatives on Grounds.
“The purpose is to let college students know how Planned Parenthood is exploiting them,” Grossu said. “Eighty percent of Planned Parenthood [facilities] are within 5 miles of a college campus; this is their target demographic.”
The campaign also takes issue with Planned Parenthood image as a women’s health organization. Planned Parenthood is the primary abortion provider in the United States, and has been dropping their other services, Grossau said.
“We want students to know that they aren’t really interested in women’s health outside of abortions,” Grossau said.
Planned Parenthood funding could be redirected to other health services, Grossau said.
Hoos for Life President Katharine Britton, a third-year in the College, said Hoos for Life consistently peacefully protests the Planned Parenthood on Hydraulic Road each Friday morning to increase awareness about their views.
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