NEW ORLEANS - Gov. Bobby Jindal's decision to yank Medicaid dollars from Planned Parenthood will be protested today at the Governor's Mansion in Baton Rouge, and protesters will be met with the showing of undercover videos of Planned Parenthood officials engaged in the sale of baby parts after abortion, according to several local news sources.
Benjamin Clapper, executive director of Louisiana Right to Life, released the following statement today in response to Gov. Bobby Jindal's decision to play the videos on a movie screen on the mansion's front lawn:
"Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast and its supporters have ignored the atrocious videos that have shown their own leaders complicit in the sale of baby body parts of unborn babies. Instead of discussing the reality of their abortion business and the sale of baby parts, they sidestep and place the focus on their false claims that access to healthcare will fall apart in Louisiana if Planned Parenthood does not have a Medicaid contract.
"The truth is, as Gov. Jindal has stated, there are numerous healthcare providers, both public and private, that offer the services Planned Parenthood offers at its two Louisiana facilities. In fact, most of these providers offer a wider range of primary care services than Planned Parenthood. Because we have these many providers, the people of Louisiana will not miss the services that Planned Parenthood provides.
"In addition, Planned Parenthood, over the past two weeks, has repeatedly said they have never provided abortions in Louisiana. While this is technically true, Planned Parenthood is ignoring the fact that they are building an abortion facility in New Orleans to perform 2,844 abortions a year. In addition, Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, which operates the Louisiana facilities, does thousands of abortions every year in Texas, and undercover videos show that Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast does sell baby body parts after an abortion.
"We thank Gov. Jindal for taking a strong stance for life and against the abortion business of Planned Parenthood. With his bold use of video screens today on the lawn of the Governor's Mansion, he shares his concerns about Planned Parenthood very clearly. He reminds the protesters what their organization is in business doing. Just like us, Gov. Jindal believes that an organization that sells abortion and the body parts of babies should not be given taxpayer dollars.
"Together with the people of Louisiana, we applaud Gov. Jindal and stand behind his effort to defund Planned Parenthood's abortion business."
