Staff Report

With each successive protest held against national abortion provider Planned Parenthood, more and more people are turning out to support life.

Just less than a month after a weekday protest drew nearly 500 pro-lifers, on Saturday Aug. 22, more than 1,100 turned out for a #ProtestPP rally at the Cincinnati Planned Parenthood location on Auburn Avenue. The event was held in conjunction with others across the United States. More than 250 rallies, including 11 in Ohio, were scheduled.

A similar rally was held in Dayton, drawing roughly 300 people.

The #ProtestPP rally included talks by Colleen Gerke of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Family and Respect Life office, Paula Westwood of Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati, Cincinnati City Councilman Charlie Winburn, Hamilton County Auditor Dusty Rhodes, at least two priests, a protestant minister and various other officials and advocates.

“I was blown away by the passion and intensity of the other speakers, as well as by the breadth of their topics, experiences, and interdenominational support for the pro-life cause,” said Gail Finke, Senior Editor of The Catholic Beat, a Catholic news website affiliated with Sacred Heart Radio. “The huge turnout energized everyone.”

The Cincinnati rally filled both sides of the street along the block where Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio is located, and spilled over to adjoining blocks.

“It seems that we were one of the country’s largest events,” added Finke, concerning the Cincinnati rally. “The one that Glenn Beck promoted on his network and radio show had 700 people. We drew more people than the man with the third-highest-rated radio show in the nation.”

Like July’s rally, the protests were held to advocate the government cease taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood. The movement took on new life after the Center for Medical Progress began releasing undercover videos depicting Planned Parenthood officials discussing the sale of aborted baby body parts.

A statement on Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio’s website denied being involved in similar practices.

Laws like the Hyde Amendment are in place that specifically prohibit federal funds from being used to pay for abortion in most cases, and many states have followed suit, but Planned Parenthood does receive funding for other services. Opponents of the organization say this funding frees up money for abortion services.

Posted Aug. 24, 2015