Week in Review – Planned Parenthood comes clean—officially brands its founder as a racist and eugenicist
The biggest news in the pro-life world this week had to be the capitulation of Planned Parenthood on the racist nature of its founder—Margaret Sanger. Pro-lifers have been fighting for years to get out the truth about Sanger and, this week, the organization just threw in the towel.
Sanger’s first clinic was in New York City and it was in that city that the end came. On Tuesday of this week, Planned Parenthood of Greater New York officially announced that it was taking Sanger’s name off the Manhattan clinic and was asking the city to remove a street sign proclaiming the intersection next to the building as “Margaret Sanger Square.”
In making the change, PPGNY board chair, Karen Seltzer said, “The removal of Margaret Sanger’s name from our building is both a necessary and overdue step to reckon with our legacy and acknowledge Planned Parenthood’s contributions to historical reproductive harm within communities of color. . . . Margaret Sanger’s concerns and advocacy for reproductive health have been clearly documented, but so too has her racist legacy. There is overwhelming evidence for Sanger’s deep belief in eugenic ideology.”
In an accompanying statement, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (which is also headquartered in New York City) said it supported the New York affiliate’s decision to strike Sanger’s name from the center. Melanie Roussell Newman, senior vice president of communications and culture at the PPFA, said: “Planned Parenthood . . . is reckoning with our history, and working to address historical inequities to better serve patients and our mission.”
American Life League has always focused on educating the general public as well as Planned Parenthood employees on the true nature of PP. Just a month ago (on June 18), PPGNY employees published an open letter sent to their board of directors. In that letter, they documented the rampant racism that permeates Planned Parenthood today. In acknowledgement of the continuing problems at Planned Parenthood, the organization revealed in the press release an initiative, Reviving Radical, which began in 2019.
PPGNY included in its press release a statement from a member of the Reviving Radical team, Dr. Lynn Roberts, who is also associate dean of student affairs and alumni relations at CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy. Dr. Roberts said: “I am heartened by the decision by PPGNY to rename its Manhattan Health Center. . . . I am even more encouraged that this symbolic gesture is also accompanied by a deeper commitment to take even bolder steps toward institutional transformation.”
It is clear that those who understand the real internal problems at Planned Parenthood know that this abandonment of Margaret Sanger is just the first step in solving real racist issues at the organization.
While we pro-lifers are gratified that Planned Parenthood acknowledges that we have been right all along in our condemnation of Margaret Sanger, there remains the basic problem—Planned Parenthood leadership and its employees still believe it is okay to kill God’s children. While we pray that all the discussion of PP and racism will lead to a lessening of its influence in minority communities, we know that the continuing fight against the largest abortion chain in the nation is not going away.
As long as any Planned Parenthood doors are open, we must stand in the doorway to protect the preborn and the young people.
ALL in the News – Inspiring words of St. JPII; and the official recognition by PP of the harm done by Margaret Sanger
In her commentary this week, Finding Hope Amidst the Madness, Judie Brown reminds us of the words of St. John Paul II: “This crisis of civilization must be countered by the civilization of love, founded on the universal values of peace, solidarity, justice and liberty, which find their full attainment in Christ.”
Jim Sedlak issued a commentary on Planned Parenthood admitting Margaret Sanger’s Racism in which he quotes a Planned Parenthood official saying “The removal of Margaret Sanger’s name from our building is both a necessary and overdue step to reckon with our legacy and acknowledge Planned Parenthood’s contributions to historical reproductive harm within communities of color.”
Jim also did an interview with One News Now on the Sanger situation. He is quoted as saying: “Planned Parenthood has a long way to go – [and] we’re very happy that they’ve begun to publicly recognize the racist nature of the organization. Now, if they would just close the organization down completely, we would certainly have a great 2020.”
Judie Brown’s weekly commentaries and press statements continue to be featured as a column on Renew America.
Jim Sedlak’s Pro-Life Activism from Creation to Death is a weekly talk-radio program on the Radio Maria USA network. The show can be heard live every Friday at noon (Eastern Time) and is repeated on Saturdays (10 PM).
Video of the Week – The ‘Right’ to Own Others
Hugh Brown, vice president of American Life League, appears on Alan Keyes’ IAMtv to explain how one political party continues to demand a right to own other human beings.
Action Item of the Week – Be ready for end-of-life questions and help
As all involved in the fight to protect every human being’s life—from creation to death—knows, in order to be prepared to take action, you must be educated! As our population is getting older, the ability to fight for the rights of everyone at the end of their lives is needed.
Today, we make you aware of two critical resources. One is from American Life League (ALL) and the other is from the Healthcare Advocacy and Leadership Organization (HALO). Both are available to you AT NO COST.
ALL has prepared an advance healthcare directive, the LOVING WILL, which has helped protect individuals from “Dr. Death” for three decades. It was put together by a team of medical professionals and lawyers and updated as necessary to meet the threats to life we all face.
The LOVING WILL packet also contains a Medical Power of Attorney document that you can use to appoint someone to make medical decisions for you in case you cannot make those decisions yourself.
You can download the LOVING WILL, along with a host of educational material, by going here. Note that it will ask you to “order” the document, but the price is $0.00.
The second resource comes from HALO. It is a 16-page resource, “MAKING A DIFFERENCE – A Guide for Defending the Medically Vulnerable.”
“MAKING A DIFFERENCE” contains needed information, including “23 Questions to Ask a Hospice BEFORE Admission.” If you have not walked a relative through the end-of-life process before, this document is an absolute must.
To obtain “MAKING A DIFFERENCE,” go here. Click on “view PDF” to download a FREE copy. If you prefer one or more printed copies, you can order them from this same page.
We encourage you to use these FREE resources to educate yourself on how to protect your life and the lives of your family members.
BECAUSE OF THE CORONAVIRUS AND THE THREAT OF MEDICAL PERSONNEL MAKING DECISIONS ON WHO LIVES AND WHO DIES, THESE DOCUMENTS HAVE TAKEN ON A NEW SIGNIFICANCE.
ORDER YOURS TODAY.
ALL’S LOVING WILL (including a Medical Power of Attorney) – GO HERE.
HALO’S “MAKING A DIFFERENCE” RESOURCE – GO HERE.
Pro-life Social Media – ‘Now Do Selling Baby Parts’: Planned Parenthood Erases Sanger from its History
In a superficial attempt at damage control, the Planned Parenthood affiliate in New York City is removing the name of its racist founder from its building. Margaret Sanger’s cancellation comes hot on the heels of complaints made by employees past and present regarding institutional racism within the New York affiliate.
We are removing Margaret Sanger’s name from our Manhattan Health Center. This is both a necessary + overdue step to reckon with our legacy + acknowledge PP’s contributions to historical reproductive harm within communities of color. https://t.co/Du6OVuBsl7 pic.twitter.com/lweRiduBjn
— 📢 PPGNY Action Fund (@PPGNYact) July 21, 2020
Pro-life advocates aren’t fooled by Planned Parenthood’s gesture.
You may be removing her name but you’re still carrying on her work.
— 🇦🇺JustJosh🇩🇪 (@BroadcastBeserk) July 22, 2020
If you really want to end her legacy then shut your company down.
Step two: denounce her ideologies and stop killing innocents.
— azkris10m (@azkris10m) July 21, 2020
We are removing Adolf Hitler’s name from our Gas Chambers. This is both a necessary + overdue step to reckon with our legacy…..
— rozzer (@rozzorozz) July 22, 2020
He’s on to something.
Good, but by “acknowledge PP’s contributions to historical reproductive harm within communities of color” do you mean up to and including 21 July 2020? https://t.co/pPcCUpY5AO
— Jeff Mooradian 🇺🇸🏳️🌈 (@JeffMooradian) July 21, 2020
Still not enough, I dare say, y’all need to shut down and then pay reparations for every black life that your eugenic policies have ended https://t.co/tbGG2ow6VX
— Shania (@badtraddiplomat) July 21, 2020
Undercover investigator of Planned Parenthood, David Daleiden, offered a worthwhile change:
Now do selling baby parts. https://t.co/Ff3cV1Fa3U
— David Daleiden (@daviddaleiden) July 21, 2020
Agreed.
