Planned Parenthood supporters rally at Federal Plaza: Photos

Planned Parenthood supporters—numbering around 50 by my estimation—gathered today at noon on a narrow bit of pavement downtown in Chicago's Federal Plaza responding to tweets ("PLZ RT Outraged abt Planned Parenthood losing fed funding? Rally to support women's health, Friday, noon, Federal Plaza") and Facebook callouts for the gathering. Construction covered so much of the plaza that supporters of Planned Parenthood and about two dozen abortion opponents were jammed together in front of TV cameras and news microphones. The rally was a response to last Friday's move by the U.S. House of Representatives to eliminate the national family planning program Title X. Rep. Mike Pence's proposal would cut off Planned Parenthood health-care services for 1.4 million Americans. One hundred members of Congress signed a letter supporting Planned Parenthood.

Carole Bright of Planned Parenthood Illinois spoke shortly after noon, noting the House amendment doesn't target abortion, but rather funding for preventative care. "This is going to be denying women basic health care," she told a reporter before leading the rally. She noted that 40,000 women in Illinois receive care under Title X and that "These services are not about abortion," later listing "breast exams, birth control and STI screenings" as essential service provided under the federally funded program. She shouted out to Planned Parenthood's supporters in the House before introducing Rep. Mike Quigley (D - IL), who took a somewhat stronger stance.

Quigley didn't shy away from the abortion issue. "The new House majority has launched an attack on a woman's right to choose," he said, adding, "We look to the Senate to restore sanity." He described the assault on Title X as a sign that the House Republicans "think that a woman should not have access to basic reproductive health care." And added that, "With Planned Parenthood, we can reduce abortions. With Planned Parenthood, we can empower women." A Planned Parenthood spokeswoman cited examples of recent clients who were now receiving treatment for cervical cancer, breast cancer and atopic pregnancies because of early detection. "It's so critical that we were there," said an organizer.