Both sides of Planned Parenthood debate turn out to protest

People for and against Planned Parenthood held demonstrations Saturday morning in Cincinnati. The local activism mirrors events happening across the country on what was labeled National Day to Defund Planned Parenthood.

RELATED: Rallies for and against Planned Parenthood.

Anti-abortion activists gathered in front of the Planned Parenthood building on Auburn Street shortly after 11 a.m. and at the Holy Name Church on Auburn Avenue, as well as the St. Teresa of Avila Church on Overlook Avenue, carrying signs with messages to defund Planned Parenthood.

“It was peaceful and loud,” Mary Clark, who helped organize the local effort, said following the rally. “There were about 300 people out there combined for each side of the issue.”

Hamilton County Commissioner Chris Monzel spoke to the crowd and urged everyone to be “prayerful, peaceful and respectful.”

Paula Westwood, executive director of the Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati, said the ongoing battle to defund Planned Parenthood by right-to-life activists will continue even as those on the other side of the issue state that the organization does more than provide abortions.

“Planned Parenthood receives $533 million annually from us taxpayers, 43 percent of their annual budget, of which $430 million comes from the federal government,” Westwood said in a statement. “Though tax funds are claimed not to fund abortion, any money granted Planned Parenthood underwrites its abortion agenda.”

Last year, Gov. John Kasich signed House Bill 294, to block abortion providers from qualifying for five federal funding programs administered by the Ohio Department of Health.

The bill redirected state-administered grants — approximately $1.3 million in 2015 — away from Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.

Planned Parenthood filed suit in federal court to block the law from being enforced. Judge Michael Barrett granted Planned Parenthood a temporary stay then permanent injunction, blocking the law from being enforced.

The law is still held up in the courts and Middletown Health Commissioner Jackie Phillips told the Journal-News she is pleased with that order.

“Losing Planned Parenthood services in Middletown back in 2009 or 2010 left a major gap in female reproductive health for the residents of Middletown,” she explained. “It is very important that we remain vigilant and periodically access the community to discover the needs especially where it pertains to cancer screenings, prenatal care and community education.

“We here in Middletown did not experience the controversial side of Planned Parenthood. We experienced and appreciated all of the other wonderful things that they provided. Hopefully we will be able to put the politics in the correct place when it comes to women’s health and put the women front and center.”

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