"The support from the community has been terrific," said Michelle McIntyre, local coordinator for the campaign. "People have stopped to offer us coffee and tell us thank you. Even Planned Parenthood's own customers have been friendly and grateful for the information we offer them."
Planned Parenthood of Western Washington, the state's largest abortion provider, is fearful that the Campaign may cut into profits. It issued a statement last week claiming that their clinics were "under siege from anti-choice protesters," and encouraged supporters to make donations. "It's odd that they call us anti-choice when it's the dedicated and loving folks participating in this vigil who are offering women the choice of having their baby – a choice that Planned Parenthood doesn't give them," said Ms. McIntyre. "As far as we know a single baby has never been born at a Planned Parenthood facility," she continued.
According to data posted on its web site, the supposedly not for profit Planned Parenthood Federation of America received $254.4 million in tax dollars in the 2002-03 fiscal year and reported revenue of $903 million during its 2005-06 fiscal year. In 2005, Planned Parenthood of Western Washington took in almost $34 million for a net profit of almost $4 million. In their 2005 annual report, the number of pregnancy-related client visits dropped slightly, but the number of abortions performed jumped from 6,200 in 2004, to just over 7,000 in 2005.
There has been little to no opposition to the Everett 40 Days for Life Campaign.
The Campaign officially began at midnight on September 26th and will end on November 4th. Vigil goers have seen their message resonate, especially with Planned Parenthood customers. One young woman came out of the Everett clinic after her abortion and walked up to vigil goers tearfully saying, "I'm sorry. I didn't want to do it but I had no choice." Vigil goers were able to offer compassionate support, the gift of prayers and a referral for post-abortion support at Project Rachel, an organization that offers women compassionate healing support after they've had abortions.
Women who have experienced abortion in the past are also participating in the 40 Days for Life Campaign. Nancy Johnson who had an abortion at the suggestion of Planned Parenthood 35 years ago, that she now regrets, is praying at the Olympia and Everett locations with a sign that reads I regret my abortion. "I wish something like 40 Days for Life had been there for me. I wasn't told about other options or warned about the harm that abortion does to women," Ms. Johnson said.The 40 Days for Life Campaign is a nation wide effort of prayer and fasting by every day Americans in 89 cities across the United States. For more details, visit http://40daysforlife.com/ and http://www.40daysforlife.com/everett/
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