Planned Parenthood, a nonprofit organization that began in 1916, strives to educate men and women about sexual activities, provide safe and secure services such as abortions, cancer screenings, and a variety of sexual health tests and treatments. According to the official Planned Parenthood website, the organization has nearly 650 health centers …show more content…
When Donald Trump officially became president in January of 2017, he vowed to end federal funding for the organization because of their abortion services. On February 25, 2016, Donald Trump stated, “As far as Planned Parenthood is concerned, I'm pro-life. I'm totally against abortion, having to do with Planned Parenthood. But millions and millions of women — cervical cancer, breast cancer — are helped by Planned Parenthood…I would defund it because of the abortion factor, which they say is 3 percent. But I would defund it, because I'm pro-life. But millions of women are helped by Planned Parenthood” (Gillin). This quote was brought up plenty of times at the February 11th protest because many women are outraged by President Trump’s apparent ignorance and lack of empathy. As seen in Figures 1 and 2, men and women alike held signs and wore shirts that said “Dump Trump” and “Unpresident Him.” Moreover, Figure 1 vividly shows the serious expressions that these participants held; they made their discomfort and anger known. As one of the protesters said, President Trump seems to not believe that Planned Parenthood offers more than just …show more content…
According to the official Planned Parenthood website, the organization spends the majority of their time performing STI/STD tests, administering STI/STD treatments, and offering different forms of contraceptives. During the February 11th protest, many participants held up signs that read “Let me have my cancer screenings,” and, as pictured in Figure 3, “If you take away my birth control, I’ll just make more feminists.” The woman pictured behind the sign in Figure 3 openly discussed her intense love and support for Planned Parenthood and how it has affected her as a female. “Without Planned Parenthood,” she said, “I would have produced many more feministic young ladies. Their free contraceptive services have kept me safe and sexually healthy.” The men and women with such signage clearly understand that Planned Parenthood offers services that reach beyond abortions; they actively participate in all sorts of vital services such as adoption referrals, sexual education classes, breast examinations, pregnancy tests, and so forth. However, many pro-life protesters fail to see Planned Parenthood as a place of refuge for women rather than a clinic that constantly performs