We Support Planned Parenthood Aurora

Some of you may have seen the stories over the last few weeks about the legal fight over the opening of a new Planned Parenthood clinic in Aurora, Illinois. To sum up, the city of Aurora told PP that they couldn't open until they investigated the building permits that were used to build the clinic. Supposedly, the issue was that PP had filed for some permits under a different name to avoid tipping off anti-choice groups too early about the new clinic. Planned Parenthood's lawyers claimed that the "investigation" was just an excuse to delay the opening and was the result of pressure from anti-choicers, who were very vocal in their opposition to the clinic. After a political and legal battle that lasted for weeks, the State Attorney found that there was no wrongdoing on Planned Parenthood's part, and the city of Aurora issued an occupancy permit for the new clinic on October 1st.

Here are some links with more info:

~Planned Parenthood of Aurora has their own blog, which has detailed coverage of the fight to open the clinic, the protesters, the supporters, and what you can do to help. There are also links to lot of great pictures and video. Leave them some comments and show your support. We will be.

~Here is a statement of support for PP released by Illinois Senator and presidential candidate Barack Obama.

~This was the statement given by Chicago area PP President Steve Trombley on the morning that the clinic finally opened.

~Coverage of one of the ringleaders of the anti-choice protests can be found on the ArchPundit blog and in a story from the Chicago Tribune. This crowd uses some crazy tactics, including photographing license plates of Planned Parenthood employees, volunteers, and patients, as well as contractors and workers involved with the building of clinics. Why? So that they can harass these people over the phone, post their private info on the internet, send them bloody fetus images in the mail, and stage protests at their homes to publicize their connection to Planned Parenthood. Thoroughly charming behavior from some fine upstanding "pro-life" citizens.

~Here's an ad taken out by the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice: "We believe that women are moral decision makers".

~On taking action.

~Rosie Jimenez, the Hyde Amendment, and the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health.

~Here is something that all of us can still help with. Anti-choice protesters are using a vacant lot near the new clinic to protest and harass Planned Parenthood patients and employees. They are taking photos and writing notes about patients entering the clinic. This lot is owned by Dominick's, a Safeway store (Safeway tried at one point to claim that they did not own the lot, but the paper trail seems to prove otherwise). This is private property and Safeway has the right to tell these protesters that they can't use the lot to intimidate and harass people who are just seeking out legal medical care. As this part of the story has started making the rounds, many people have decided to call Dominick's/Safeway directly and express their anger and concern about Safeway's inaction on this issue.

Dominick's Ethics Hotline # is 1-866-239-1376. You can call the store directly at 630-236-0683. But the best thing seems to be calling the corporate offices in Pleasanton at 925-467-3000. (When you call, they may ask for the zip code of the Aurora store, which is 60504.) You can also email Business.Ethics@safeway.com.

Go ahead and call or email. You know you want to. People like this shouldn't be allowed to intimidate us, and the staff and volunteers of PP Aurora are awesome for all that they've done to get this clinic open and get health care to women who need it.