Planned Parenthood critics, backers rally across U.S.

Anti-abortion activists held rallies against Planned Parenthood across the country Saturday, urging Congress to defund the women's health services organization.

Rallies were planned outside more than 200 Planned Parenthood clinics in 45 states, according to protestpp.com. Some of demonstrations drew counter protests in support of the organization.

Thousands of Planned Parenthood supporters, many wearing the pointy-eared pink hats popularized by last month’s women’s marches, turned out for a rally in St. Paul, Minn., separated by barricades from an anti-abortion crowd of a couple hundred people. In Detroit, about 300 people turned up outside a Planned Parenthood office, most of them supporting the organization.

In Tempe, Ariz., about 200 opponents and supporters lined a street corner outside the Planned Parenthood Health Center, remaining peaceful and sticking to separate sides of the street.

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A group of anti-abortion activists repeated prayers while holding "Defend Life" and "Choose Life" signs. Planned Parenthood supporters formed a sea of pink on the corner closest to the clinic.

Lisa Blevins, who organized the anti-Planned Parenthood protesters, said she has protested at the Planned Parenthood Tempe location every weekend for more than a year.

"We're peaceful, prayful people. We are based on prayer. We respond to them (the other protesters) by praying for and blessing them," she said. "We listen to them and we stay in peaceful prayer."

Amber Squires, one of the organizers of the pro-Planned Parenthood group, said she also is here every weekend but was happy to see the much larger attendance this Saturday.

As the morning progressed, some people switched sides of the street, mingling with and talking to those on the other side of the issue. Some counter protesters wore bright pink vests labeling them as “escorts” to help any patients leave the clinic.

"The fact that people here are talking about both sides in a very peaceful manner in public is amazing," said Planned Parenthood of Arizona spokeswoman Tayler Tucker. "Today is a great example of how we can express our First Amendment rights respectfully and peacefully."

In Shrewsbury, N.J., about 20 protesters picketed in front of a Planned Parenthood office. Nancy Johnson of Oceanport was one of them. She said she had a simple reason for attending Saturday's rally.

"I'm here simply because I believe abortion is ending a life," Johnson said. "The money could be spent protecting life rather than taking a life."

In Milwaukee, Becky Sanfelippo of West Allis, Wis., and a new grandmother, said Saturday that she decided to join her first public protest, holding a "Moms for Life" sign and standing with around 70 people gathered outside a Planned Parenthood health center.

"I want to help save the lives of future unborn babies," said Sanfelippo, whose husband Joe is a Republican legislator in the state Assembly.

"It's a peaceful demonstration," she said. "I think it's the best way to get your views across."

In St. Cloud, Minn., more than 100 supporters of Planned Parenthood carried hot pink signs, adorned with phrases promoting women's health, contraception and the right to abortion.

More than 50 critics of Planned Parenthood marched with yellow "Choose Life" signs and calls to defund Planned Parenthood.

Brody Hagemeier, a senior and president of SCSU for Life, organized the protest for the anti-abortion side.

“I’m coming to share the message of life with every car that’s driving by and everyone that’s be able to see it,” he said.

“Right now there are hundreds of other rallies occurring nationwide outside of Planned Parenthoods in every state in the country and we’re in solidarity with them. We welcome our friends on the other side of the aisle who support Planned Parenthood. ... We’re glad they can hear our message. Because at the end of the day, Planned Parenthood doesn’t provide the women’s health care that they think it does.”

While Planned Parenthood does perform abortions, state and federal funds are not allowed to be used to pay for them except in cases of rape or incest or when a woman’s life is in danger.

Planned Parenthood received $553.7 million in federal funding in 2014. The majority of the money comes by way of reimbursement for traditional health-care services the centers provide to Medicaid patients, including cancer screenings and pap smears.

Anti-abortion activists began organizing the nationwide Rally to Defund Planned Parenthood for Feb. 11 shortly after the Women's March on Washington and its sister marches across the country and around the world on Jan. 21. Anti-abortion activists said they were denied a role in the Women's March after organizers took a stance in support of abortion rights.

Contributing: The Arizona Republic, Asbury Park (N.J.) Press, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, St. Cloud (Minn.) Times, The (Westchester County, N.Y.) Journal News, The Associated Press