Friends of Planned Parenthood Decry Recent Disruptions of Their Meetings

The recent efforts to disrupt a peaceful meeting of South Bay Friends of Planned Parenthood/Los Angeles (May 8) are a tragic commentary on the unwillingness of anti-choice forces to allow rational and calm discussion of issues related to choice. These disruptive actions strike at the very heart of every American’s right of free speech and freedom of assembly.

A small but vocal minority of Catholic activists, led by members of St. Lawrence Martyr Church in Redondo Beach, exerted enormous pressure on the owner of the facility where our meeting was scheduled. Threats against the owner and his employees caused the owner to fear for the economic future of his business. Planned Parenthood has no desire to harm any business enterprise and we voluntarily agreed to move our meeting site.

Unsatisfied, this radical group attacked HomeFed in Redondo Beach, where we rescheduled the meeting in the community room. That organization caved in quickly to the pressure of threatening telephone calls. Planned Parenthood regrets any inconvenience we may have caused the bank. We believe, however, (that) every individual and corporate entity has an obligation to support the right of free speech and freedom of assembly in America.

What the protesters fail to understand is that Planned Parenthood is committed to low-cost family planning services and reproductive health care for both men and women. Ninety-two percent of the organization’s budget is devoted to education and the prevention of unwanted pregnancies. We are particularly concerned about the epidemic of teen-age pregnancies in our community and across the country.

The South Bay Friends of Planned Parenthood/Los Angeles are outraged by the actions of those who would prevent the free exchange of ideas. Fear, intimidation and closed minds are dangerous in a democratic society. We are committed to continuing our schedule of meetings that provide a valuable source of information to the community, presented in a thoughtful and intelligent manner.

--Steering Committee

South Bay Friends of Planned Parenthood/Los Angeles