Planned Parenthood has closed its health center in Indiana's second-largest city, blaming intimidation and harassment by supporters of anti-abortion groups.
Planned Parenthood said Monday it closed its Fort Wayne health center following growing harassment and intimidation of its staff that it blamed on supporters of Allen County Right to Life and other anti-abortion groups.
PPINK President and CEO Christie Gillespie said the closure was due solely to the continual harassment targeting patients, providers and supporters over the last few years, which included sharing personal information like staff home addresses.
Gillespie said Planned Parenthood has operated for over 80 years in the Allen County area, and does not perform abortions. She says the services they provide, like birth control, STD and HIV testing and treatment, and tests that provide early diagnosis of cervical cancer, are in high demand.
Gillespie said they particularly cared for individuals near or at the poverty level and that Right to Life and other "Anti-women" organization are dramatically reducing access to these services.
"All of this during the time where data shows Fort Wayne's rates of STDs are higher than the rest of the state. At a time where the maternal mortality rate in Indiana is twice that of the nation," Gillespie said.
In a statement, Allen County Right to Life Executive Director Kathie Humbarger rebutted Gillespie's claims.
"We believe Planned Parenthood's closure is due to its dwindling customer base in Indiana and its unpopularity in the greater Fort Wayne community," Humbarger said. "Planned Parenthood's accusation that intimidation by Right to Life led to this closure is simply untrue and smacks of an attempt by Planned Parenthood to turn its business woes into a fundraiser."
Gillespie says they had difficulty finding providers to work at the clinic because of the harassment. The lack of providers resulted in a decrease in patients, she says.
Gillespie says current patients will be notified of the closure via emails and written letters. They will provide other options for services in the area.
Four Planned Parenthood employees were laid off due to the closure.
By early afternoon, a rally in support of Planned Parenthood and protecting the open seat on the U.S. Supreme Court was circulating social media, planned for Monday evening at the site of the now-closed clinic.
