Winners of De-Funding Planned Parenthood Video Contest Announced

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Mar 15, 2011   |   1:34PM   |   Washington, DC

Two pro-life groups that cater to young people have announced the winners of a contest they jointly sponsored to encourage young people to produce videos urging the revocation of taxpayer funding for the Planned Parenthood abortion business.

The contest was designed to support the Pence Amendment, which the House of Representatives approved, but which the U.S. Senate defeated — although both chambers of Congress are still debating how to solve the federal budget issue and whether Planned Parenthood will receive federal funds.

After receiving dozens of videos from youth across the country explaining why Congress should de-fund Planned Parenthood, Live Action and Students for Life of America announced today the winners of their “Tell Congress” YouTube Video Contest. The contest was open to all high-school and college-age youth between 14 and 25 and contestants were urged to use creativity in addressing Congress and explaining why they should de-fund Planned Parenthood.

The winning video, the maker of which will receive $1,000 from the organizations, features a West Indian woman named Melissa who cobbles together some of the most damaging facts about Planned Parenthood from their own annual report figures showing how the abortion business has increased the number and percentage of abortions it does and decreased the number of services for pregnant women. It also highlights the Live Action videos that have exposed how Planned Parenthood staff at several abortion centers helped arrange for abortion for victims of sex trafficking.

“We are all called to stand up for our fundamental rights especially for those whose basic rights to life are attacked,” Melissa says on YouTube. “The best thing we can all do is speak out and support each other. My hopes is for people to see the link between Planned Parenthood and abortion and vicious cycles that result from the two.

The winners and links to their videos are as follows:

1st Place $1,000 prize:                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jjl15Vp713U&feature=related
2nd Place $500 prize:                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boPJ1VH9ODM 
3rd Place Survivors Camp:          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2fKvbNadnE
4th Place $250 prize:                     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_UPHvj12zc

Lila Rose of Live Action told LifeNews.com, “I am so proud of all of the creative and  bold efforts of students from across the country. Together, we stand for the protection of our unborn brothers and sisters, and we will work to expose organizations like Planned Parenthood which destroy innocent human beings and cover up the abuse of our young peers.”

Kristan Hawkins, the director of Students for Life, added: “We are so excited to release the ‘Tell Congress’ contest winners today as Congress is right now debating the next Continuing Resolution. Dozens of creative and inspiring videos from this generation of pro-life leaders have flooded the Internet calling upon Congress to de-fund the nation’s largest abortion chain and to protect women and preborn children. In the midst of a national budget and debt crisis, it is inconceivable that Planned Parenthood should continue any receive federal funds.”