Thousands March Against New Planned Parenthood Abortion Business in Houston
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
January 18, 2010
Houston, TX (LifeNews.com) — Thousands of pro-life advocates joined together to protest the massive new abortion business in Houston, Texas that appears to be the largest abortion facility of its kind in the nation. This six-story Planned Parenthood abortion "super center" is located in the middle of four minority neighborhoods.
The pro-life advocates — representing people of all races — decried Planned Parenthood for relocating to a former bank building next to three predominantly Hispanic and one African-American neighborhood.
Family Research Council president Tony Perkins was on hand to deliver an address.
"Planned Parenthood’s Houston abortion super center will most likely become the prototype for so-called ‘preventative care’ centers under President Obama’s health care plan," he warned.
He said that the government-run health care restructuring bill in Congress must be stopped or Planned Parethood will get more more for more centers.
"Make no mistake about it, the present health care bill gives bureaucrats in Washington great discretion in how they dole out funds and to what programs. Most of these decisions will be made by Kathleen Sebelius, the former governor of Kansas who has a record that made her the most pro-abortion governor in America," he said.
Local pro-life advocates said they didn’t want a giant abortion business in their backyard.
"I grew up over here in this neighborhood," said Vickie Soliz of Houston, according to the Houston Chronicle. "That building used to be the old Sterling Bank. Nobody knew what they were putting in there. They wouldn’t do this in Kingwood or The Woodlands."
Lou Engle, president of The Call, the group that spearheaded the protest, talked with LifeNews.com about the event.
"Planned Parenthood is targeting these minority pro-family communities, both for their finances and the restriction of their populations," he said.
He noted that key African American, Latino, and political leaders came to speak and hold a nationwide press conference along with the protest.
"On Martin Luther King’s holiday, we want black Americans and Hispanics to raise their voices and say we’re not for this in our neighborhood," Engle said. "We’re meeting with networks of Hispanic pastors who are saying they are not wanting this in their neighborhood. I just spoke with 30 black pastors today who are standing with us on this."
"This is a great hour for the Hispanic pro-life people, Catholic and Evangelical, to raise their voices against abortion and for adoption," Engle said. "Public opinion over abortion is shifting radically in America to pro-life."
Engle believes Houston could become the new epicenter of pro-life activity to end abortions.
"As Martin Luther King Jr. would proclaim it – It is time to ‘subpoena the conscience’ of the nation from the flashpoint of Houston, Texas," he said. "Maybe Houston could become the Birmingham of our day to let the unborn go free and spare the pregnant mother the agony of guilt. Maybe out of Houston a great demonstration of compassion could be launched through pregnant mother care with a mass movement of adoption."
Planned Parenthood released a statement in response to the event.
"Our new building on the Gulf Freeway will be the largest Planned Parenthood building in the U.S.," the abortion business said. "It will be our administrative headquarters for 35 counties in Southeast Texas and Louisiana."
Officials said abortions will be done there on babies through 19 weeks into pregnancy.
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