Thoughts from Planned Parenthood on 40 Days for Life

To get an idea of what the abortion industry is thinking about 40 Days for Life, here is a recent email from Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards regarding 40 Days for Life. It is sometimes difficult to get an understanding of what an organization like Planned Parenthood is thinking based on such communications, since to a certain extent, these type of emails/letters are written to get supporters excited, and to raise money. However, although the primary purpose of the email is to raise more money for Planned Parenthood, it is interesting nonetheless, as it provides some insight into what they are thinking about this "crisis."

It's pouring here at Planned Parenthood.

Specifically, right this minute, it's pouring in
Kansas, where a particularly venomous district attorney
has just filed 107 baseless charges against Planned
Parenthood in court. And today, the anti-choice fringe
is asking Congress to suspend $300 million in federal
funding for our affiliates' health care services until
the case is settled.

Unbelievable. Please help.

Today's news comes on the heels of an unprecedented
series of attacks on Planned Parenthood.

Last week, the rain fell on us in Washington, DC, where
one U.S. senator called us out by name in an amendment
that would have limited birth control funding for
health centers like ours.

Throughout this month, the anti-choice fringe is
showering our clinics with protesters during its "40
Days for Life" campaign, which our own Emily X is
documenting in painfully vivid pictures and videos.

And then, there's President Bush's appointment last
week of an anti-birth control hardliner to be in charge
of U.S. family planning policy. And let's not forget
our epic fight in Illinois last month to open our
Aurora health center.

This unprecedented storm -- these attacks on Planned
Parenthood and the women we serve -- are relentless,
and are on the move across the country with no signs of
stopping.

We've been at this work for more than 90 years, and if
there's one thing we've learned, it's when to ask for
help. And it's now. We need your help right now.

Sometimes we ask you to take action, sometimes to
volunteer. Today, there is only one way to help: with
money.

We need to fight the 107 charges the local district
attorney has filed. We need to keep Congress from even
considering cutting $300 million in our funding. And we
need to do it fast, so that we can shut down this
outrageous effort before it gains any more momentum.

You can see and hear more from workers at clinics being
targeted by the anti-choice "40 Days for Life" campaign
on the blog posted by Planned Parenthood employee Emily
X. It's some tough but inspiring reading. She has been
signing her blog posts like this: I am Emily X. I am
Planned Parenthood.

You know what? You are Planned Parenthood, too.

Thank you for being there for us today. We'll keep you
posted about how you can help as this crisis evolves.

Sincerely,

Cecile Richards
President, Planned Parenthood Federation of America