Fox Valley Activists Scuttle Planned Parenthood's "Community Forum"
Posted by Matt Yonke on Thursday, February 12th, 2009
It was cold, windy and exceptionally dark on Wednesday, February 11, when over 40 pro-lifers from Fox Valley Families Against Planned Parenthood (FVFAPP) protested Planned Parenthood's so-called "Community Forum" on Reproductive Justice at the Eola Community Center in Aurora, IL.
Planned Parenthood has been holding these Forums all over Illinois in support of Illinois House Bill 5615, the Reproductive Justice and Access Act (RJAA).
FOCA for Illinois
The RJAA is essentially the "Freedom of Choice Act" (FOCA) on the state level. It would remove what few restrictions the state currently has on abortion, end abstinence education in schools and all but eliminate doctors' and pharmacists' rights to refuse abortion or contraception on the basis of conscience.
The RJAA was defeated in the legislature last year after FVFAPP and other Illinois pro-life groups led a massive campaign of calls and letters to Illinois public officials. Now, Planned Parenthood is trying to push the legislature to bring it back.
Planned Parenthood's Strange "Community Forum"
Planned Parenthood doesn't hold community meetings for the purpose of informing the community and fostering dialogue. If they wanted to do that, the meeting would have been open to the public.
Instead, to attend the meeting, they required people to sign up beforehand on their website and bring a photo ID.
Once word got out FVFAPP was planning a protest of the meeting, Planned Parenthood claimed their registration system had had a glitch and everyone would need to re-register. At the same time, they claimed that they were booked to capacity and could accept no new registrations.
Local pro-life student Greg Guest had signed up for the meeting prior to the glitch, brought his photo ID, and was told his name was not on the list and he would not be allowed in.
Witnesses said every person entering the meeting was known by name to the Planned Parenthood representatives guarding the door, and though they claimed to be booked to capacity, fewer than twenty people attended the "Community Forum" and there were many empty seats.
Pro-Lifers Outnumber Planned Parenthood 3 to 1
Outside, over 40 pro-lifers picketed in the spot assigned to them by the Fox Valley Park Distric police department, which was conveniently situated directly outside the room where Planned Parenthood was holding their closed-door meeting. The two parking lot lights adjacent to our spot were conspicuously not lit and the moonless night made for a very dark spot to protest.
Despite the cold and the darkness, the mood was positive as pro-lifers carried signs reading "Planned Parenthood Lies to You", "Stop Abortion Now" and "Planned Parenthood Kills Babies."
As many picketed, others handed out literature about the RJAA, detailing its many pernicious aspects. Almost 300 pieces were handed out to people entering and leaving the community center.
Planned Parenthood hoped their forum would buy them credibility as a positive community organization and would paint a pretty face on their deadly operation. FVFAPP's protest exposed them and their legislation for what it is.
"When we announced this protest, Planned Parenthood abandoned the idea of having a community meeting. They know how committed the pro-lifers of the Fox Valley really are," Eric Scheidler said.
Stalwart activism like this has made it clear to Planned Parenthood, city governments and law enforcement that the League is serious and in it for the long haul in Aurora.
Thanks to all those faithful activists who braved the weather and sacrificed an evening to make this event a success.
Links and Related Info
- Article from the Aurora Beacon News
- Blog post from the Aurora Beacon News blog
- Slideshow of Pictures from the protest
- Greg's account of being turned away by PP despite having registered for the meeting
This is more proof that our conservative voices are being snuffed out very deliberately and very overtly.
Thanks so much for all the dedicated pro-lifer's that braved the weather. Hope I'm able to join next time.
February 12th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Do you have any contacts in Central New York. I am having a really hard time getting hooked up with any pro-life group here.
Angela McConville
8726 Radburn Drive
Baldwinsville, NY 13027
315-753-0052
February 12th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Praise God! Your persecution and efforts to reveal the true nature of the horrendous abortion industry shall be rewarded by the only One Who Is.
Prayers for those exploited and abused women, their unborn babies, and everyone they contact are certainly fitting. Let us all pray and fast for an increase of faith during the 40 Days For Life during this Lenten season, 2009.
- - -
Tom Martin
Albuquerque, NM
February 12th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
It is so wonderful to see people out in the dark and cold standing up to evil!! We have to continue the fight for the unborn. Thanks to all that were there.
Let's keep the faith!
G.Rust
February 12th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Check Students for Life of Illinois blog some time this weekend for more coverage of this event.. I'm thinking there's some deep implications of what went on behind Planned Parenthood's meeting. Like I said, sometime this weekend we'll have something up as well.
Thanks Matt!
http://www.sflillinois.org
February 12th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Angela and others interested in getting involved–
Please visit our sidewalk counseling map for contact information for 200 activists and activist groups all over the US.
http://prolifeaction.org/sidewalk/map.htm
The closest contact to Baldwinsville is:
Rescue Rochester
http://www.rescuerochester.com/
PO BOX 311
Spencerport NY 14559
Try contacting them to see if they know of anyone close to you.
February 12th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
[...] FAPP article here. [...]
February 12th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Amen. Those PP people trying to spread their false information and lies.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:01 am
Good job to you protestors!
February 13th, 2009 at 12:01 am
A very BIG THANK YOU to all who attended the protest. I was certainly with you in spirit and prayer. God will not ask us if we have been successful, He will ask us how hard we tried. But in the end He will triumph. Thank you, again.
February 13th, 2009 at 11:32 am
I think it went down like this:
PP realized that pro-lifers were going to infiltrate the meeting. But they had no way of knowing who was pro-life and who wasn’t.
But they couldn’t cancel the meeting with out loosing face. I bet they were probably remembering how they canceled their "Q&A" event at Waubonsee in fall of 2007 rather than have to answer any questions from pro-lifers in the public audience.
So rather than risk one single pro-lifer getting in there to report on their propaganda or even disrupt their effort to misinform members of the community about the RJAA, they chose to hold a pretend meeting with known friendlies.
February 13th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Praise the Good Lord for giving the Graces of strength to the great people who joined the protest!! I am so grateful, as I'm sure even the PP people are, that our Blessed Mother Mary chose LIFE!! I never felt Jesus was 'part of her Body'…He was God!!!
February 14th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Not a coincidence but a Godincidence that this happened on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes!.
Keep up your wonderful work!
February 15th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
I thought this was an interesting email, my dad sent to me.
Red Envelope
I thought this was worth passing on!
Dear Friends ,
This afternoon I was praying about a number of things, and my mind began to wander. I was deeply distressed at the symbolic actions that President Obama took as he began his presidency. Namely, that he signed executive orders releasing funds to pay for abortions, permission to fund human stem cell research, and federal funding for contraception. I have been involved in the pro-life movement for nearly 20 years, and it pained my heart to see a man and a political party committed to the shedding of innocent blood. This man, and this party lead our country, but they do not represent me or the 54% of Americans who believe that abortion is wrong and should no longer be legal.
As I was praying, I believe that God gave me an interesting idea. Out in the garage I have a box of red envelopes. Like the powerful image of the red LIFE tape, an empty red envelope will send a message to Barack Obama that there is moral outrage in this country over this issue. It will be quiet, but clear.
Here is what I would like you to do:
Get a red envelope. You can buy them at Kinkos, or at party supply stores. On the front, address it to
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington , D.C. 20500
On the back, or on a note inside, write the following message.
This envelope represents one child who died in abortion.
It is empty because that life was unable to offer anything to the world.
Responsibility begins with conception.
Put it in the mail, and send it. Then forward this email to every one of your friends who you think would send one too. I wish we could send 50 million red envelopes, one for every child who died before having a a chance to live. Maybe it will change the heart of the president.
We should all try to mail them on the same day so they arrive within a day or two of each other and be even more of a visual at the White House. With Valentine's Day coming up, red envelopes should be easy to come by too. Say we all mail them on the weekend of Feb 28-March 1st. That gives us almost month to pass the word as far and wide as we can. Of course, you can send a red envelope anytime you want, but getting lots at once is great too.
February 16th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
I wrote my envelope!!
February 17th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Michelle M.,
I thought this was such a great idea I posted it on my favorite website…
http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?p=4825535
Although let's continue to send these envelopes all year and send them to the President & our representatives in the House and Senate.
February 17th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
There is more on the "Red Envelope Project" on Jill Stanek's Blog…
http://www.jillstanek.com/archives/2009/02/red_envelope_pr.html#comments
February 17th, 2009 at 4:37 pm