Abortion opponents, rights supporters rally across country
SEATTLE — Anti-abortion activists emboldened by President Donald Trump’s administration staged rallies nationwide Saturday calling for the federal government to cut off payments to Planned Parenthood, but in some cities counter-protests dwarfed the demonstrations.
Thousands of Planned Parenthood supporters assembled in St. Paul, Minn., separated by barricades from a couple hundred people who oppose abortion. In Detroit, about 300 people gathered outside a Planned Parenthood office, most of them supporting the organization. In St. Louis, about 150 abortion opponents slightly outnumbered a group carrying signs that read, “I stand with Planned Parenthood.”
“They do a lot of work to help women with reproductive health — not just abortions, obviously — but they help with birth control and cancer screenings and counseling and a whole variety of services, and it seems they’re under attack right now,” said Kathy Brown, 58, who attended the St. Paul rally.
Andy LaBine, 44, of Ramsey, Minn., rallied with abortion opponents in St. Paul. LaBine, who was there with his family, said he believes Planned Parenthood is hiding “under a veil of health care.”
“I personally believe that abortion is a profound injustice to the human race,” LaBine said.
In one of his first acts as president, Trump banned U.S. funding to international groups that perform abortions or provide information about abortions. Vice President Mike Pence strongly opposes abortion, citing his Roman Catholic beliefs, and the newly confirmed health secretary, Tom Price, has supported cutting off taxpayer money to Planned Parenthood.
Federal dollars don’t pay for abortions, but the organization is reimbursed by Medicaid for other services.