Austin, Texas Abortion Facility Construction Boycott Sees More Gains

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Aug 8, 2004   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Austin, Texas Abortion Facility Construction Boycott Sees More Gains

by Maria Gallagher
LifeNews.com Staff Writer
August 8, 2004

Austin, TX (LifeNews.com) — A contractors’ boycott may continue to slow construction of a controversial multi-million dollar abortion facility in Texas.

Boycott organizer Chris Danze says Rainbow Concrete, a company involved in the construction of a Planned Parenthood abortion center in South Austin, is now out of business. The company went bankrupt, leaving some observers to wonder whether the construction project will be completed on time.

According to Danze, 18 concrete companies in the Austin area have agreed to boycott the project, indicate the building may not be ready by fall.

"The project has hit a snag with the second phase because they can’t get concrete. Without concrete the second building cannot move forward," Danze told an Austin television station. The second building would reportedly house administrative and educational offices.

Still, a spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood denies that the boycott is having an effect on construction.

"Construction is going along smoothly right now. We are focused on trying to get our clinic opened, so we can serve the many patients in Austin," Danielle Tierney told the TV station.

However, Tierney refused to say whether the closure of Rainbow Concrete would delay the opening of the abortion center.

"We are not going to discuss the names of any businesses or organizations working on the choice project for obvious reasons," Tierney said. "We have to do everything we can to protect their privacy and security."

A company called Shumaker Ready Mix purchased some of Rainbow Concrete’s equipment. But the company’s general manager said it was not responsible for finishing the Planned Parenthood job.

"We didn’t purchase any contracts, any liabilities of Rainbow. Just some of the assets being equipment and trucks," Mike Wallace of Shumaker Ready Mix told the Austin station.

However, Danze believes more contractors will join the boycott, making completion of the project difficult.

Planned Parenthood is the nation’s largest abortion operation. The Texas boycott has been applauded by pro-life leaders around the nation, who see it as a positive way to prevent abortion from escalating in a community.

Last year, the boycott successfully halted the Texas building project when the general contractor, Browning Construction of San Antonio, pulled out in response to the controversy. But construction resumed in January, with Planned Parenthood vowing to complete the abortion center on time.

But boycott leader Chris Danze is still hopeful that the abortion center won’t be built.

"This battle is a long way from being over, no matter what Planned Parenthood says. One thing you can be sure of when dealing with Planned Parenthood, the facts and their portrayal of the facts are usually very far apart," Danze said.