Fed up with bloody fetus photos: Planned Parenthood supporters resist obscene demonstrations

author : Carolyn LaFond topic : Planned Parenthood

by Carolyn LaFond

Confrontation between anti-choice and pro-choice activists has been heating up recently, as the two groups face off near the Planned Parenthood clinic, at the corner of Legion and Adams in downtown Olympia.

Planned Parenthood is the country’s and state’s largest contraception educator/provider, preventing thousands of unwanted pregnancies. Planned Parenthood does not perform late term abortions, which are only done at hospital facilities for medical reasons.

Illogically, the people behind the bloody fetus campaign “Show The Truth” even oppose the use of contraception!

Regardless of one’s position on choice, it is not appropriate for children—or women who may have suffered late term miscarriages or still-births—to have to see these images as they walk or drive by the intersection.

Many of the bloody fetus photos used by “Show the Truth” are from China, where late term abortions are common, and some are obviously created digitally for their large placards. It seems that the anti-choice advocates will do anything to get a response. After doing a little research, it was learned that the group is associated with both St. Michael’s church and three of the other well-known, fundamentalist churches in town.

Recruiting homeless individuals or their own children to help hold signs is not beneath their unsavory tactics.

Lately, a group of dedicated and fed-up citizens have devoted their Fridays to stand at the corner of Adams and Legion Way to support Planned Parenthood and to protest “Show The Truth’s” inflammatory and vulgar campaign. They always appear between 10:15 and 11:45 a.m. and then return from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Those who are interested in joining the Planned Parenthood supporters are enthusiastically welcomed to show that the Olympia community is pro-choice and pro-contraception.

Signs are available or you can bring your own. If you can’t come to stand in solidarity, at least drive past during this time period and honk to show your support. Supporters/protesters need to make sure that they stand far enough away from the fetus placards to avoid confusion-of-cause but close enough to the Planned Parenthood offices to show support.

For those planning to attend the show of support for Planned Parenthood, try parking closer to the library and walk over. Do not block the sidewalks or stand on the curb to block the view of traffic at the intersection. The police have been notified to patrol the corner during these two time periods so that the group’s leader cannot claim “block- age of traffic” on the Planned Parenthood supporters, as he has already tried to do. Ironically, the “Show The Truth” truck is often the real blockage of view for drivers at this intersection.

A large protest is planned for the second Friday in October to make a firm statement about the community’s stance on a woman’s right to choose, as well as to tell “Show The Truth” what we think of their vulgar campaign.

For further information, call Carolyn at 360-357-7509 or email to: venusbot22@yahoo.com