WWW.GUlLFORDIAN.COM
RALLY
NEWS
Ralliers gather in support of Planned Parenthood
Continued from Page I
in a pink bus, stopping at cities to
raise awareness about these attacks
on women's healthcare.
According to their web page,
the purpose of the Truth Tour is to
reverse false propaganda spread
by Republican politicians about
Planned Parenthood practices, and
to demonstrate the support found
in communities and online.
The bus came to Greensboro on
April 4, bringing an explosion of
pink to the Planned Parenthood
parking lot on Battleground
Ave. The estimated 70 people in
attendance were handed bright
shirts and signs boasting the "I
Stand with Planned Parenthood"
slogan.
Gathering in front of the bus,
the group listened to speakers
including Director of Public Policy
at Planned Parenthood Systems
Jessica Bearden and Guilford
County Senator Gladys Robinson .
Current patient Robin Heyer
spoke on how she does not
attend the clinic for contraceptive
purposes, as she is unable to
conceive children. Instead, she
relies on their healthcare services
such as cancer screenings.
"Women could die if we lose
Planned Parenthood," said Heyer.
"This shouldn't happen because of
misinformation."
This problem of misinformation
was addressed at the panel in
Bryan Jr. Auditorium.
Speakers included Community
Health Educator at Planned
Parenthood Mary Connor,
Assistant Professor of Political
Science Maria Rosales and senior
Grayson Schmidt, who is a double
major in sociology/anthropology
and women's studies and was
trained as an abortion doula, while
Assistant Professor of Sociology
and Anthropology Julie Winterich
moderated.
Connor stressed that there is
an inaccurate stigma attached
to Planned Parenthood and
emphasized that in the entire
Planned Parenthood Federation of
112 affiliates, only 10 percent deal
with abortion.
While many healthcare programs
such as Medicare, Medicaid and the
Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act could possibly lose
funding, the majority of the panel
focused on the proposal to cut all
funding from Title X, or the Family
Planning program.
At the rally on April 4, Senator
Robinson and longtime friends
"Women could die
if we lose Planned
Parenthood.
This shouldn't
happen because of
misinformation."
Robin Heyer, Planned
Parenthood patient
Sally S. Cone and Leigh Seager
explained their concern for young
women today.
"All our life, we have been
fighting for equality, especially in
healthcare," said Seager. "It was
horrible then, and I am afraid
that today's generation will take
advantage of what has been given
to them and not come out to fight
against this."
An estimated 30 Guilford
students attended the rally.
"I see this as a war against
women," said senior Cordelia
McKusick. "So currently, it should
be the most legitimate concern for
students."
While the group was
enthusiastic, as they linecl the road
to get the public's attention, some
showed disappointment at the
turnout.
"More people should have been
here," said junior Devinne Melecki.
Despite the Truth Tour's
invitations to all Greensboro media
outlets, UNCG's The Carolinian
and The Guilfordian were the only
newspapers to cover the rally.
At this time, there are several
Planned Parenthood locations
that provide services such as STI
testing, pap smears, contraception
and pregnancy testing for free.
Other sites offer these services
at a reduced, affordable price.
according to Connor.
Defunding would affect all of
the establishments. According to
Connor, birth control prices could
go from $20 to $70 a month.
The temporary federal budget
was set to expire on Friday, April 8
and the Republicans and Democrats
in Congress could not reach an
agreement for the rest of the fiscal
year. This funding cut was one of
the last policies to be decided, and
in their final compromise, the bill
was not passed.
The eleventh-hour budget
decision did not include any
of the policies against Planned
Parenthood, according to NPR. The
debate for the funding, however/is
not over as the government plans
for the 2012 budget.
"This is just a start," said Connor.
"Hands off my body. Don't tell
me how to spend my money. The
next attack will be on Plan B (the
emergency contraceptive) and
birth control."
Connor predicts that Planned
Parenthood funding will be safe
this year, but thinks there will be
some serious changes within the
next five years.
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