In October 2007, Planned Parenthood opened what was at the time the largest abortion facility in the country in Aurora, Illinois, under a cloud of controversy and protest. An overnight candlelight vigil, from 7 p.m. on Sunday, October 1, through 7 a.m., Monday, October 2, 2017, marks the tenth anniversary of the day that the abortion vendor opened its doors in the Fox Valley.
The candlelight vigil will include prayers, hymns and reflections by clergy and others who have served the pro-life mission at Planned Parenthood in Aurora over the past ten years. Following the opening hour-long prayer service, pro-life volunteers will hold a solemn vigil throughout the night.
Eric Scheidler, executive director of the Pro-Life Action League, led the initial protests of the Aurora facility and continues to coordinate the pro-life outreach there. “This solemn occasion marks the sad anniversary of Planned Parenthood’s deceit in Aurora, Illinois. Ten years ago, the abortion giant snuck into this community behind a front company—blasphemously named G.O.D. (aka Gemini Office Development, LLC)—claiming to be a multi-use doctors office, when their real intention was to build an abortion mega-center in Chicago’s far west suburbs.”
The historic battle against Planned Parenthood’s Aurora center began an impromptu, round-the-clock “40 Days for Life” prayer vigil (that ultimately stretched to 54 days), massive protests drawings upwards of 1,000 people, packed City Council meetings lasting as long as seven hours, court hearings, candlelight vigils, and nationwide news coverage. Three separate lawsuits were spawned by the controversy, including a federal lawsuit in defense of pro-life citizens civil rights, a defamation suit against Planned Parenthood for publically accusing their opponents of violence, and a case in state court over fraud and zoning violations by Planned Parenthood. The civil rights and defamation suits were settled out of court, but the zoning case is now before the Illinois Appellate Court.
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In response to the massive community opposition to Planned Parenthood in 20076, Steve Trombley, then-CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois, said that once the facility opened, the pro-life protesters would all give up and “go back to their normal lives.” Trombley was wrong.
A decade later, there is still a strong pro-life presence at Planned Parenthood’s Aurora facility. Area residents are there daily, praying, protesting, and offering compassionate help to mothers being lured into Planned Parenthood, urging them to choose life-affirming alternatives to abortion.
“For the past ten years, pro-lifers of the Fox Valley have tirelessly reached out to abortion-bound women at Planned Parenthood’s huge abortion center in Aurora, helping them choose life for their babies,” noted Scheidler. He vowed, “We will continue to oppose Planned Parenthood through all peaceful means until they stop killing children in our community.”
The overnight vigil marks the tenth anniversary of Planned Parenthood’s opening in Aurora, and recognizes those who have maintained a steadfast pro-life outreach there:
EVENT: 10th Anniversary Candlelight Vigil at Planned Parenthood in Aurora, Illinois
WHEN:
- Candlelight Prayer Service: Sunday, October 1, 2017, 7-8 p.m. (Central)
- Overnight Vigil: From 8 p.m. (Central), Sunday, October 1, 2017 , through 7 a.m., Monday, October 2, 2017
WHERE: Aurora Planned Parenthood, located at New York Street and Oakhurst Drive (3051 E. New York Street, Aurora, IL 60505)
