Boycott Continues to Block Austin, TX Planned Parenthood
by Maria Gallagher
LifeNews.com Staff Writer
November 8, 2003
Austin, TX (LifeNews.com) — A boycott effort launched by pro-life contractors against an abortion center construction project in Austin, Texas is gaining ground.
A boycott effort launched by pro-life contractors against an abortion center construction project in Austin, Texas is gaining ground.
One of the state’s largest construction companies, Browning Construction Co. of San Antonio, pulled out of the project earlier this week, citing an inability to retain subcontractors and suppliers. The boycott, which has been going on for six weeks, is being spearheaded by the upstart Austin Area Pro-Life Contractors and Suppliers Association.
According to chairman Chris Danze, owner of Maldonado and Danze, Inc., every concrete supplier within 60 miles of Austin has agreed not to provide material for the building project.
"Planned Parenthood is an organization with a health care wrapper that is a social movement at its core," Danze told LifeNews.com. "…a social movement that promotes sexual chaos especially among our youth. Out of this chaos comes the violence of abortion."
Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion operator, broke ground for the $6.2 million facility in September. The abortion center is scheduled to be open by fall of next year, but pro-life contractors are hoping their boycott effort will prevent the center from opening up for business.
A Planned Parenthood spokeswoman, Danielle Tierney, has been quoted as saying the boycott is a "campaign of harassment and intimidation" and that the project would be completed, regardless.
In a memo to pro-abortion advocates, Tierney said, "In Austin, a community that prides itself on progressive values, local businesses became the target of anti-choice hardliners who are willing to sacrifice the health and well being of uninsured women for political gain. One subcontractor received 1,200 negative phone calls in one week."
In an effort to counteract the boycott, Planned Parenthood recently joined forces with local public officials at a news conference aimed at trying to weaken the pro-life campaign. Those voicing support for Planned Parenthood included City Council member Brewster McCracken, State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, and former mayors Bruce Todd, Kirk Watson, and Gus Garcia.
The boycott effort has attracted not only national, but also international attention. For instance, a British newspaper posted an Associated Press story about the boycott on its website.
The boycott effort has the support of Texas Right to Life, a statewide pro-life organization. The group’s associate director, Elizabeth Graham, previously told LifeNews.com, "We encourage all Texans to boycott businesses who support and encourage the anti-woman agenda of Planned Parenthood."
