Dozens of people Tuesday gathered outside Planned Parenthood clinics in Indianapolis and Bloomington, joining other rallies around the state and the country in a call to cut off federal funding from the health care and abortion provider.
Dozens of protesters came together outside the organization's Bloomington location holding signs that read, "No money for blood" and "Don't kill your baby." Planned Parenthood supporters also gathered outside, wearing pink shirts and displaying a large banner that said, "Healthcare happens here."
The renewed push to defund Planned Parenthood comes in the wake of a series of videos that allegedly shows the organization's officials discussing the sale of tissue from aborted fetuses.
In a statement, Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky spokesperson Tammy Lieber says the group does not participate in any tissue donation programs and complies with all laws and regulations, and she notes 93 percent of Planned Parenthood's services are for preventative care and that 67 thousand Hoosiers rely on the organization for health care.
But Indiana Right to Life lobbyist Sue Swayze says Planned Parenthood can't hide behind what she calls the lie that the group is about helping women.
"We have plenty of low-cost, low-income health care, at least in the state of Indiana," she says. "We have county clinics, low-income clinics, federally-funded clinics; we have private sector clinics."
Several of Indiana's federal lawmakers – including Sen. Dan Coats – have joined the call to defund Planned Parenthood.
"We need to let Planned Parenthood know that the American people do not support these inhumane practices," Coats said while speaking on the Senate floor Tuesday. "Congress should vote, and vote soon, to end federal funding for Planned Parenthood."
Many state lawmakers – including Sens. Brent Waltz, R-Greenwood, and Mike Delph, R-Carmel, who were at the rally – have backed Gov. Mike Pence's move to investigate the organization.
