Local Planned Parenthood supporters protest H.B. 1210

About 70 Planned Parenthood supporters showed up wielding colorfully written bright signs to protest House Bill 1210 in front of Bloomington’s Planned Parenthood clinic Monday.

H.B. 1210 would, in part, eliminate federal funds allocated through the state to Planned Parenthood. These funds account for approximately 13 percent of Planned Parenthood of Indiana’s funding and would put eight clinics across the state at risk for closure, said Kate Shepherd, Planned Parenthood of Indiana's director of communications and marketing.

Jessi Ensenberger, a peer educator working for Planned Parenthood, said she thinks the bill is based on peoples’ misconception that the money being eliminated would go to funding abortion when, in fact, the money goes primarily to preventative care.

The bill, if signed –  as Gov. Daniels has indicated he will do –  would “only increase welfare spending … and raise the overall cost [to the state],” Lara Kish said, another Planned Parenthood peer educator.

Another protestor, Jessica Newlin, said she disagrees with the bill primarily because abortion is such a small part of what Planned Parenthood does in the state and that the bill would backfire by creating more unwanted pregnancies in Indiana.

The protest received a fairly enthusiastic response from passers-by in vehicles at the busy intersection, with about one in every four or five cars honking in approval, soliciting cheers from the protesters.

One woman, however, did stop an older van for several minutes and repeatedly shouted, “You’re killing babies!” A few protesters attempted to engage with the woman, but another protester in the back of the crowd shouted, “Take the high road, be classy!” at which point the crowd of Planned Parenthood supporters began chanting “Don’t engage, don’t engage!” and “Pro-woman, pro-choice!”

The counter-protester soon drove away.