HISTORIC ABORTION CENTER CLOSURE ANNOUNCED
Bryan/College Station, Texas -- The most significant
abortion center closure -- in the 40 years of legalized
abortion since the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision
-- was made public today when Planned Parenthood Gulf
Coast, Inc. announced that it was shutting down its
abortion facility in Bryan/College Station, Texas after
fifteen tumultuous years in business.
In 2003, on the 30th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, ABC's
Nightline spotlighted pro-life efforts in Bryan/College
Station and said the community was "shaping the abortion
debate" in America. Since that time, the local Planned
Parenthood abortion facility gained worldwide notoriety as:
* Site of the first-ever 40 Days for Life campaign in
2004, an effort that has since grown into a worldwide
pro-life mobilization of 575,000 volunteers in 501
cities around the globe; saving 7,536 babies from
abortion, closing 37 abortion centers, and helping 83
workers to quit their jobs in the abortion industry
* Place where former abortion center director and
Planned Parenthood employee of the year Abby Johnson
experienced a conversion, quit her job, and became an
outspoken pro-life advocate, going on to found And
Then There Were None, a new ministry which has since
helped 60 other workers to leave the abortion
industry over the last year
* Home of the Coalition for Life, the grassroots
organization which Planned Parenthood credited for
making the community "the most anti-choice place in
the nation" in which Planned Parenthood experienced
its "most consistent and active" opposition in the
nation
David Bereit, national director of 40 Days for Life,
said: "This is epic news fifteen years in the making!
Thousands of dedicated community members have faithfully
prayed and held peaceful vigils outside this abortion
center, offered hope and alternatives to turn away
prospective Planned Parenthood customers, and educated
the community about the harm of Planned Parenthood.
These efforts, combined with the decisive action of
the Texas legislature, have finally brought about this
closure that is an answer to prayer."
Shawn Carney, 40 Days for Life campaign director, said:
"As the birthplace of 40 Days for Life and the place
where Abby Johnson resigned after eight years working
for America's largest abortion chain, this is a huge
victory for the entire pro life movement! Peaceful and
prayerful local opposition to abortion is ending
abortion from the grassroots up."
Abby Johnson, former Bryan/College Station Planned
Parenthood abortion center director and founder of And
Then There Were None, said: "This is what grace truly
looks like. Knowing that the former abortion clinic I
once ran is now closing is the biggest personal victory
of my life. From running that facility, to then advocating
for its closure, and now celebrating that dream ... it
shows that my life has indeed come full circle. I am
honored to have worked with so many who helped with my
conversion and the closure of this facility. We will
continue to fight until every abortion clinic in this
country has shut its doors." ###
David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life
No comments:
Post a Comment