Vol. 79/No. 37      October 19, 2015

The firebombing here occurred the day after Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards testified at a hearing of the House Oversight Committee in Washington, D.C., organized by Rep. Jason Chaffetz, an opponent of women’s right to choose who wants to cut off all federal funding to the group.

The hearing was called to take advantage of videos released since July by David Daleiden, from the so-called Center for Medical Progress, an anti-abortion organization. Actors hired by Daleiden posed as representatives of a fake company trying to buy fetal tissue for medical research and secretly recorded the discussions, including about money, with Planned Parenthood doctors.

“Planned Parenthood helps patients who want to donate tissue for fetal tissue research, following clear guidance that goes well above and beyond the legal requirements in this area,” said Planned Parenthood spokesman Eric Ferrero. “This work is not about ‘harvesting’ or ‘selling’ or ‘profiting.’”

“Despite Mr. Daleiden’s nearly three-year effort to entrap Planned Parenthood, he failed to succeed in convincing even a single affiliate to enter into a procurement contract with his fake company,” said Richards in a written statement to the congressional hearing.

“Doctors who provide abortion, as well as their families, often face harassment,” she noted in her testimony. “And after this recent smear campaign it’s only gotten worse.”

The arson attack in eastern Washington left the Pullman clinic, which provides a variety of health services but does not perform abortions, almost totally destroyed, forcing Planned Parenthood to look for a new location.

In an Oct. 2 visit to the Thousand Oaks clinic, a broken window was boarded up and crews were working to repair the damage and install more security equipment. A group of four anti-abortion protesters held signs near the driveway to the clinic.

Much of the damage was the result of water from the sprinkler system, which rapidly contained the fire.

About six weeks earlier, windows at the center were broken by rocks. “We’re no strangers to harassment,” Jenna Tosh, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties, told the Los Angeles Daily News Oct. 1. “The attack that happened last night is unacceptable and will not be successful.”

The Thousand Oaks clinic, which provides cancer screenings, birth control, abortions and testing for sexually transmitted diseases, reopened Oct. 5.

In response to the attempt to cut federal funding, thousands rallied in cities across the country Sept. 29. “I am proud to say I stand with Planned Parenthood,” Lisette, 18, a student who works with the group but did not want her last name made public, told the rally of 300 in Los Angeles. “I’m going to fight just like everyone is fighting today.”  
 
 
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