President's Day Donations "In Honor of" George W. Bush Pour In To Planned Parenthood
NEW YORK, Feb. 9 /U.S. Newswire/ -- In an overwhelming show of spontaneous activism, thousands of Americans have demonstrated their support of reproductive rights by making contributions to Planned Parenthood in the name of George W. Bush in honor of Presidents' Day.
The grassroots mobilization took off on e-mail and various Internet chat sites last week after Los Angeles Times columnist Pat Morrison suggested in her column that making a donation to Planned Parenthood was a fitting message to send to President George W. Bush on Presidents' Day in response to his reinstating the Global Gag rule and appointing John Ashcroft.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), the nation's largest reproductive health and rights organization, responded to the overwhelming interest in the campaign circulating over the Internet by setting up a "Planned Parenthood Presidents' Day Message Campaign" on the organization's Web site at www.plannedparenthood.org. The site allows visitors to simultaneously make a donation to the organization while sending a personal message that will be forwarded to President Bush. Messages posted to date run the gamut from simple statements of support for reproductive rights to tributes from grandmothers who lived through harrowing personal experiences during the years before the fundamental right to legal abortion was codified by the Supreme Court 28 years ago in Roe v. Wade.
Planned Parenthood reported today that an estimated 10,000 individuals have made contributions to Planned Parenthood Federation of America and affiliates around the country in response to this campaign -- many are first time supporters of the organization.
Currently, an average of 900-1,000 visitors to the Web site each day are making donations and leaving messages, according to Molly Smith, Planned Parenthood Director of Direct Response.
"This is an overwhelming expression of support at a time when reproductive rights are being challenged as never before," said Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Gloria Feldt. "We hope every American who cares about the right of women to make their own reproductive choices without government interference will take a moment to log on to the Web site and send a message to President Bush," Feldt said.
Sample messages to the president being returned with contributions
---
Dear President Bush:
"You promised to be a uniter rather than a divider. You kept your promise by causing women everywhere to shudder in unison at your plan to dismantle reproductive rights. I hope you will reconsider this plan." -- Dale City, CA
"You are the current resident of the White House. Please be aware that you did not win the popular vote. Your position on a woman's right to choose is a primary reason for that fact." -- Louis Park, MN
"I'm a college student that always wants the ability to choose what I want for my body without anyone telling me what I can or cannot do. Don't you think that your daughters feel the same way that I do?" -- Washington, DC
"We, like millions of other Americans, believe that reproductive rights are important. We understand that you disagree, but we will not support any attempt on your part to stack our Supreme Court with anti-choice justices." -- Tacoma, WA
"Mr. Bush, I have contributed to Planned Parenthood as a statement that you do not have the consent of the people of the United States to deny women of the U.S. and the world the right to make our own decisions about our bodies and our beliefs." -- New York, NY
------
Planned Parenthood Federation of America is the world's largest and most trusted voluntary family planning organization. It comprises 127 affiliates that operate 875 health centers nationwide, which serve nearly five million Americans annually. For more information on Planned Parenthood, visit www.plannedparenthood.org.
KEYWORDS:
ABORTION, POLICY
Contact: Glenn Mones, 212-261-4652 Adina Wingate Quijada, 212-261-4310 both of Planned Parenthood
|
