Raleigh protesters call for Planned Parenthood defunding

RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Despite the wind and the rain, several dozen people lined up outside a Planned Parenthood clinic in Raleigh on Saturday.

"Babies' lives matter. I know we're told it's a choice, but we forget that there's a baby involved too and that baby doesn't have a choice," said protester Celia Sinkhorn.

Demonstrators said they chose to protest at the Boylan Avenue Planned Parenthood for a reason.

"Well, this place has been in the news of course. It is the largest provider of abortions in the United States, and 'why not this place?' should be the question," explained fellow protester Lesley Wright.

However, counter-protesters were quick to point out that not all locations provide abortions, including the one on Boylan Avenue.

"Planned Parenthood does a lot of important things. Defunding them will ultimately hurt the community, and the things they are protesting are not even things Planned Parenthood at this location does," says Ian Kilgore, a resident of the neighborhood who came out to support women's rights.

Still, the debate over abortion has reignited, in part, because of video that surfaced alleging Planned Parenthood profits from selling fetal remains for medical research. The President of Planned Parenthood recently appeared before Congress, although she says the videos were "heavily doctored, offensive, and categorically untrue."

Her critics aren't buying her explanation and say other statistics speak for themselves.

"17 million since Roe vs Wade, 1,876 black babies alone in this country are aborted per day. And we can't survive those numbers," says local Pastor Patrick Wooden who also came out to joins protesters.

ABC11 did reach out to Planned Parenthood, but a spokesperson said they were unable to comment on camera because their staff was busy providing care to patients. But they did issue a written statement that said, in part, that there are many other services that they provide to this community.

That includes cancer screenings, the treatment of STD's, and birth control. Planned Parenthood supporters fear these services will be cut if the organization loses federal funding.

"It really scares me that there's a decision to take that away, that that's a possibility. I'm afraid for myself, for the future, and for the people who need it," says Planned Parenthood supporter Mary Leggett.

Planned Parenthood currently receives $528 million each year in a combination of federal, state and local government funds. By law, none of the federal money supports abortions. But critics, including the group NC Values, argues the very services Planned Parenthood provides are still a problem.

"Concerned Christians around the country are rallying today to demand that their taxpayer dollars stop flowing to Planned Parenthood where the remains of aborted babies are harvested and sold for profit. Planned Parenthood has been exposed and now it's time for them to be permanently defunded," says NC Values Spokeswoman Tami Fitzgerald.

Here is the entire written statement Planned Parenthood provided to ABC11 today:

"These protests are intended to shame the patients who seek basic health care services from Planned Parenthood and to intimidate the health care professionals who work here. Women should be able to access health care without fear of violence, harassment, or intimidation. We are here for our patients, no matter what. For the women, men, and young people we serve, the care we provide isn't about politics - it's about their well-being, and we remain focused on ensuring our patients are able to access the health care we provide in a safe and caring environment. Each year, thousands of women, men and teens rely on Planned Parenthood South Atlantic for quality, affordable reproductive health care. We offer vital preventive reproductive health care services- including annual exams, birth control, lifesaving breast and cervical cancer screenings, and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. We also provide women seeking safe and legal abortion high-quality and compassionate care." - Paige Johnson, Senior Vice-President of External Affairs for Planned Parenthood South Atlantic