BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After the release of three separate videos allegedly showing Planned Parenthood officials seeking to sell the tissue of aborted human babies, protests of the federally-funded organization have swept the nation.
Protestors have consistently called for the end of taxpayer subsidization of clinics that perform abortions and allegedly sell fetal tissue on the black market. The #WomenBetrayed rallies have attracted big names ranging from Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Rand Paul (R-KY) to Dr. Ben Carson.
On Tuesday, activists in Birmingham took to the streets outside of a Planned Parenthood office. A rally organized by the CEC for Life and the Eagle Forum of Alabama attracted roughly 200 Alabamians from Birmingham and the surrounding area.
The event included the new “Women Betrayed” signs as well as several speeches from the demonstration’s organizers.
“It is critical that the State of Alabama immediately open an investigation into Planned Parenthood in light of recent and past discoveries about the disturbing practices of this organization,” said Deborah Garrett, Executive Director of Eagle Forum of Alabama. “Our state leaders at all levels of government should call for immediate defunding of this organization. Selling human tissue and body parts of aborted babies is a clear human rights violation. It is in violation of federal law, Alabama State law, and public policy.
“Human life is amazing. We often sit in awe of it. It hits us when we are present for the birth of newborn baby, when we witness an Olympic athlete break a world record, or the passing of a loved one. Humanity is fragile, but it is also extremely resilient,” Garrett said. “The Essence of human rights is the right to life and each day our government funds Planned Parenthood it is rejecting basic human rights for women in Alabama and our nation.”
“If the allegations are true, they’re committing felonies,” added Sarah Howell, assistant director of the Charismatic Episcopal Church for Life, in an interview with AL.com
Howell said there is enough reason to suspect that Birmingham’s Planned Parenthood location may be involved in the fetal tissue scandal. She said the location was sued in 2012 for allegedly failing to notify a woman that her abortion was “incomplete” and that the woman was infertile. Howell also claimed workers at the Birmingham office illegally sold abortifacients from the site’s parking lot.
Many representatives in Congress, including the Alabama delegation, have called for the organization to be defunded. An analysis conducted by Yellowhammer News indicates that federal taxpayers in Alabama contribute almost $3.5 million a year to the group, a number that breaks down to about $1.70 per taxpayer.
