Oklahoma Executive Order Equally Applies Suspension of Surgical Procedures to Abortions

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt

On March 27, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt left no question that his executive order to suspend all non-essential surgical procedures included surgical abortions, except those "necessary to prevent serious health risks to the unborn child's mother."

"This also includes routine dermatological, ophthalmological, and dental procedures, as well as most scheduled healthcare procedures such as orthopedic surgeries. 

The rapid spread of COVID-19 has increased demands for hospital beds and has created a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) needed to protect health care professionals and stop transmission of the virus."

“We must ensure that our health care professionals, first responders and medical facilities have all of the resources they need to combat COVID-19,” said Gov. Stitt. “I am committed to doing whatever necessary to protect those who are on the front lines fighting against this virus.”

More states need to take a cue from this equal enforcement and stop giving abortion clinics special permission to continue using important medical equipment during a time of unprecedented need.

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Planned Parenthood Asks Public to Donate Protective Equipment for Abortions During Pandemic

As many states are prohibiting non-essential medical procedures to conserve personal protective equipment (PPE) like surgical masks to protect doctors treating COVID19, several Planned Parenthood branches have reached out to the public to ask for PPE donations.

"In uncertain times like this, Planned Parenthood is as committed to patients as always," reads the Planned Parenthood Keystone of Pennsylvania donations page. "We will provide as many people as possible with the critical sexual health care they need to stay safe and healthy. In order to help us do this, please consider donating hand sanitizer, home-sewn masks, shoe covers, and surgical hats to protect our medical staff as they continue to provide care in our communities."

The Pennsylvania branch also called for donations on social media, making sure that its desire to drain important medical resources during this time was visible.

Live Action News also reported that Sue Dunlap, President/CEO Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, sent out an email asking for PPE donations. “In order to continue to meet the needs of the women, men, families, and communities who rely on Planned Parenthood… In order to keep our patients, staff, and sites moving through this emergency, we need all of the same supplies you are hearing about on the news. As gloves, masks, and medications run low, we are doing all that we can to procure supplies for the essential care our community is depending on us to provide.”

Abortion is an elective procedure that is not essential healthcare, no matter how many times Planned Parenthood says it is. Asking the public to donate PPE that could be used by doctors dealing with the current pandemic is incredibly egotistical and irresponsible.

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Senate-Passed Coronavirus Aid Bill No Longer Provides Abortion Funding

Credit: John Brighenti / Flickr

Two weeks ago, there was concern that pro-abortion advocates on capitol hill were going to slow down the legislative response to the coronavirus epidemic by insisting that any aid package includes funding for abortion clinics like Planned Parenthood. The bill that was finally passed Wednesday after much negotiation no longer has any provisions for abortion funding.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed unanimously in the Senate, and the House of Representatives plans to hold its own vote on the bill today.

Hyde Amendment protections against these funds being used for abortion businesses were applied to sections of the bill dealing with health care funding to ensure that these emergency funds aren't used to end the lives of unborn children. Furthermore, non-profits will not be eligible for small-business relief loans if they have over 500 employees (which Planned Parenthood does).

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30,000 Physicians Respond to Abortionists' Calling Elective Abortions "Essential Health Care" During COVID-19 Outbreak

On March 23, a coalition of five medical groups representing 30,000 physicians issued a press release criticizing pro-abortion groups, specifically mentioning the College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), for characterizing elective abortion as essential health care.

"...In such an uncertain and tumultuous time, the entire healthcare profession is being called upon to conserve resources and healthcare professionals to an extent never seen before. And yet, in the midst of this call, while hospitals are postponing elective procedures and many outpatient clinics are rescheduling non-essential office visits, the abortion industry continues with business as usual. 

In their recent joint statement, ACOG with several other traditionally pro-abortion medical organizations, made the preposterous claim that 'abortion is an essential component of comprehensive health care' for women, even though elective abortion treats no disease process.

Furthermore, over 85% of practicing obstetricians and gynecologists do not perform elective abortions. If elective abortion were an “essential component” of women’s health care, it would be a part of every obstetric and gynecologic practice."

To ensure the safety of all Americans, several states have told physicians to stop performing non-essential procedures to preserve resources like surgical masks for doctors who need them to treat COVID-19 patients. By insisting to continue performing elective abortions, abortionists are risking the lives of even more people than they normally do by potentially using resources needed by doctors performing procedures in life-or-death circumstances. They could also put additional strain on hospitals by harming women during abortions:

"Elective abortion, both surgical and drug induced, also generates more patients to be seen in already overburdened emergency rooms. Most abortion providers instruct women to go to an emergency room if they have any concerning symptoms after the abortion. Approximately 5% of women who undergo medication abortions will require evaluation in an emergency room, most commonly for hemorrhage. Surgical abortions can also result in hemorrhage. Emergency room personnel – who are already struggling to meet the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic – will be further strained to provide care to these women."

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Bernie Sanders Calls for Expanded Abortion through Telemedicine During COVID-19 Pandemic

Democratic Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders
Credit: Gage Skidmore / Flickr

Democratic Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders called out several state governments for closing abortion clinics to save personal protective equipment like surgical masks for hospitals treating patients with COVID-19. His comment shows a lack of understanding about the current crisis and suggests that he values the political gain associated with touting abortion access over the safety of Americans.

"It is outrageous that right-wing politicians in states like Texas and Ohio are using this crisis to risk women's health and safety by denying their right to abortion and other reproductive health care," Sanders wrote on Twitter. "Instead, we should be expanding access with things like telemedicine."

It is outrageous that right-wing politicians in states like Texas and Ohio are using this crisis to risk women's health and safety by denying their right to abortion and other reproductive health care. Instead, we should be expanding access with things like telemedicine.

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) March 24, 2020

These states are not targeting abortion clinics specifically. Abortion clinics use important personal protective equipment like surgical masks when they complete surgical abortions; elective procedures that are not essential to the health and survival of a patient. The same states are also prohibiting other health care providers like dentists from performing non-essential surgical procedures during this time. In reality, states that inconsistently apply this rule to create an exception for abortion clinics are only putting additional strain on important equipment and putting all Americans at risk, not just the unborn or their mothers.

Access to abortion via telemedicine is currently prohibited by the FDA through its risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS). When women attempt to complete at-home abortions by using abortion pills without the presence or consultation of a doctor, complications can occur which can lead to injury or death, especially if the woman has not had an ultrasound to diagnose conditions such as an ectopic pregnancy.

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Illinois Reproductive Health Act Fact 1: Clinics Don't Need to Notify the County Coroner if a Woman Dies During an Abortion

For the next 7 weeks, the IFRL blog will release a fact sheet each week exposing the dangers of the Illinois Reproductive Health Act which was signed into law last summer. 

GET THE FACTS - Click here to view or download this week's fact sheet.

Click here to view or download a PDF of this fact sheet.

Texas Governor Prohibits Medically Unnecessary Procedures, Including Abortions, to Save Resources During COVID-19 Pandemic

Texas Governor Greg Abbott

On March 22, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an order adding Texas to the list of states prohibiting elective abortions during the COVID-19 pandemic to make sure personal protective equipment such as surgical masks are available for increasingly-strained hospitals.

From the governor's press release:

"Under this order, the Governor directed all licensed health care professionals and facilities to postpone all surgeries and procedures that are not immediately, medically necessary to correct a serious medical condition or to preserve the life of a patient who without immediate performance of the surgery or procedure would be at risk for serious adverse medical consequences or death, as determined by the patient’s physician."

In response statements from abortion clinics claiming that their elective abortion procedures are "essential healthcare" which should continue during this event, Texas Attorney General Paxton made it clear that abortions are included in the temporary ban:

"This prohibition applies throughout the State and to all surgeries and procedures that are not immediately medically necessary, including routine dermatological, ophthalmological, and dental procedures, as well as most scheduled healthcare procedures that are not immediately medically necessary such as orthopedic surgeries or any type of abortion that is not medically necessary to preserve the life or health of the mother."

Violations of this executive order could lead to $1,000 fines or 180 days in jail. Hopefully, abortionists will understand that by at least delaying procedures they can help doctors save lives.

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Ohio Abortion Clinics Defy Governor's Order to Halt Non-Essential Procedures Amidst Pandemic

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost

On March 17, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost issued an order to halt all elective surgical procedures in the state to preserve personal protective equipment so it remains available for hospital workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several Ohio abortion clinics have publicly announced that their doors are still open and they are performing surgical abortions despite the state's order; claiming that surgical abortions are "essential health care."

On March 20, the Ohio Attorney General's Office issued notices to Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio’s Cincinnati Surgery Center and the Women’s Med Center in Dayton. These notices included a warning that unless non-essential surgical procedures were halted, the Department of Health will take action against these abortion businesses:

"On March 17, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health issued an order pursuant to the Department’s powers under R.C. 3701.13. That order (attached) cancelled all non-essential or elective surgeries and procedures utilizing personal protective equipment (“PPE”) as of 5:00 p.m. on March 18, 2020. The order was issued, in part, to preserve PPE for health care providers who are battling the COVID-19 pandemic that is spreading in our state and also to preserve critical hospital capacity and resources. 

The Ohio Department of Health has received a complaint that your facility has been performing or continues to offer to perform surgical abortions, which necessarily involve the use of PPE. On behalf of the Department, you and your facility are ordered to immediately stop performing non-essential and elective surgical abortions. Non-essential surgical abortions are those that can be delayed without undue risk to the current or future health of a patient. The Department of Health has outlined criteria to consider when determining whether a procedure is essential (see attached order). If you or your facility do not immediately stop performing non-essential or elective surgical abortions in compliance with the attached order, the Department of Health will take all appropriate measures."

Stopping abortion procedures (all of which should be considered non-essential) would slow the spread of COVID-19, free important protective equipment such as masks for use in hospitals, and reduce the need for emergency room care by preventing women from facing the complications that can occur during an abortion (such as hemorrhaging).

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FDA Confirms Regulations Banning Mail Distribution of Abortion Pill will Remain during Pandemic

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar
Credit: Chris Williams / Flickr

Last Thursday, the pro-abortion news outlet VICE wrote an opinion piece arguing for increased access to abortion pills through telemedicine. If abortion pills were available this way, people could contact abortion providers virtually via the phone or internet to receive abortion pills through the mail. When VICE asked the FDA to comment on the idea, it confirmed that restrictions against mail distribution of abortion pills would remain in effect.

“Certain restrictions, known as a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS), are necessary for mifepristone when used for medical termination of early pregnancy in order to ensure that the benefits of the drug outweigh its risks,” the FDA Office of Media Affairs told Vice.

VICE suggested that "… During the COVID-19 pandemic, HHS Secretary Alex Azar could perhaps apply Trump’s telehealth mandate to medication abortion by directing the FDA to eliminate or relax its regulations, and allow pregnant people to consult with their providers virtually and obtain mifepristone via their pharmacy or in the mail," but the Trump administration maintains its stance that giving abortion pills to women who haven't physically met with a doctor is dangerous.

Some dangers involved with loose distribution regulations can include women having complications when attempting DIY abortions, and abusive men forcing women to undergo abortions they don't want.

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Euthanasia Lobby Calls for "Teledeath" Euthanasia in Response to COVID-19

Credit: Cory Doctorow / Flickr

In a recent fundraising email, Compassion & Choices President and CEO Kim Callinan took advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to suggest that the recent acceptance of telemedicine could lead to the availability of assisted suicide drugs over the telephone or internet.

"As always, we are responding quickly to the needs and opportunities of the times," she wrote. "As the workforce grapples with the pandemic, telehealth is gaining prominence as a critical mode of delivering medical care. This provides a unique opportunity to make sure health systems and doctors are using telehealth, where appropriate, for patients trying to access end-of-life care options. These efforts should improve access to medical aid in dying in the short and long-term."

If suicide drugs were made available via telemedicine, impulsive individuals in need of other help could possibly access death drugs without ever physically meeting with a psychologist or doctor.

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Illinois Planned Parenthood Clinics to Continue Operating During Stay at Home Mandate

Many state governments have announced stay-at-home mandates and declared that all non-essential businesses will remain closed to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Different states seem to have different stances on whether abortion clinics are considered "essential," but the pro-abortion state of Illinois will apparently allow clinics to remain open during the pandemic.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Planned Parenthood of Illinois, rather than closing its doors like most other businesses in the state have been forced to do, will instead be consolidating its abortion services to six locations.

“Planned Parenthood of Illinois is taking all necessary precautions to keep our staff and patients healthy and well,” said Planned Parenthood of Illinois Chief Medical Officer Dr. Amy Whitaker. “This temporary consolidation of services is just one part of that. Patients will still need family planning services and abortion care during this time, and we are committed to providing it.”

Planned Parenthood has asked patients to reschedule "non-essential appointments," but it's apparent that the abortion giant will still continue to profit from elective abortions despite the danger they might cause by spreading the coronavirus.

Louisiana is one state which has declared elective abortion to be a non-essential service. State officials are threatening legal action against abortion clinics which have remained open. Louisiana Right to Life Executive Director Benjamin Clapper issued this statement to emphasize the risk to the public these clinics were taking by keeping their doors open:

“Louisiana abortion facilities are endangering the public safety by remaining open during the coronavirus pandemic. With full parking lots and small buildings, it seems probable that these abortion facilities are aiding in the spread of the coronavirus. Abortion is an elective procedure, and postponing abortion, as directed by the Department of Health, would not threaten the physical health of women at these abortion facilities. Pregnancy is not a disease.

“If the delay requires a woman to forgo an abortion due to the pregnancy extending beyond the current legal limit when the unborn child has developed to 20 weeks, then there are public and private agencies that can assist with support both for adoption and parenting. Even in these situations, the safety of the woman has not been jeopardized.

“In infrequent cases where there may be a medical emergency that might threaten the physical life of the mother, hospitals would be the appropriate location to handle those situations, even in these chaotic times, since abortion facilities are not equipped to handle medical emergencies. These abortion facilities are only performing elective procedures. 

“The priority for every medical professional during this time of crisis should be stemming the tide of the coronavirus. By remaining open for business, the abortion industry has prioritized its profits over the health and safety of women and all Louisianians.”

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Ambulance Keeps Sirens Off as it Transports Hemorrhaging Woman from Planned Parenthood

Credit: Operation Rescue

Emergency personnel valued Planned Parenthood's reputation over the safety of their patient on March 6 when they transported a hemorrhaging woman from a Riverside, California Planned Parenthood clinic without turning on their ambulance's sirens.

Pro-lifers participating in 40 Days for Life recorded the incident.

There is no reason to risk the life of a patient experiencing complications after an abortion taking measures designed to save Planned Parenthood's reputation. In emergency situations, medical personnel should value every second by turning on their sirens and ensuring that patients receive medical care as quickly as possible.



According to Operation Rescue, the Riverside Planned Parenthood of California is also responsible for a patient's death in 2007.

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Abortion Advocates Push for Lifted Abortion Restrictions During Coronavirus Pandemic

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

The abortion industry is fighting for increased access to abortion through telemedicine by arguing that the FDA should lift its Risk Evaluation Mitigation Strategy (REMS) safety requirements for abortion pills.

Under REMS, abortion pills can only be distributed by qualified clinicians at approved hospitals and clinics. If the restrictions were lifted, non-doctors would be able to sell abortion pills online directly to consumers or ship them to pharmacies.

Self-managed abortions using the abortion pill regimen can be risky since no medical professional is present to intervene if complications arise, which isn't uncommon. In 8% of self-managed abortion cases documented by a TelAbortion study, women sought follow-up care at a medical facility. That number is probably smaller than what would occur in an uncontrolled environment as well since not all women would have the advice of a trained study clinician vetted by an organization trying to prove that telemedical abortion is safe.

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Google Employee Files $5 Million Countersuit Against Pro-Life Advocate He Assaulted on Video

Screenshot of Quinn Chasan from Gribbin's video

Micheal Gribbin sued Head of Customer Analytics for Google Cloud Quinn Chasan last year for allegedly assaulting him outside a Planned Parenthood clinic. Gribbin even recorded video evidence of the event. Now, Chasan has filed a $5 million countersuit for battery, violation of D.C. “hate crime” laws, and causing “severe and extreme pain, emotional distress, and mental anguish.”

On August 31, Gribbin was writing pro-life messages with chalk on a sidewalk outside a Planned Parenthood clinic. Chasan stole Gribbin's chalk and proceeded to walk away and insult Gribbin while he followed; recording their conversation on his phone. A physical altercation followed; a recording of which Gribbin released to the public.


“This is absurd. Michael Gribbin is a victim, not an assailant. There is no way his actions after before, during, or after the assault caused Chasan $5 million in damages,” said Catholic University of America professor Dr. Michael New according to Life Site News. “Furthermore, any negative consequences incurred by Chasan are the direct result of his own misconduct. It is my hope that the judge dismisses Chasan’s countersuit as frivolous.”

Failure to convict Chasan of assault could result in pro-abortion advocates feeling empowered to physically attack pro-life activists in the future.

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Utah Legislators Pass Law that would Ban Most Abortions if Roe v. Wade is Overturned

On March 9, Utah's House joined the Senate in approving a "trigger" bill which would ban most abortions (with exceptions for cases of rape and incest) if Roe v. Wade is overturned. The bill is currently awaiting the approval of Republican Gov. Gary Herbert.

There are currently 8 other states with "trigger laws" in place to outlaw abortion immediately if Roe v. Wade is overturned. Because they don't take effect unless the court reverses the landmark decision, they cannot be challenged in court.

Votes for the "trigger bill" were along party lines in both houses: 22-5 in the Senate and 51-21 in the House.

A bill requiring that abortion facilities bury or cremate the remains of aborted children is also awaiting the Utah governor's signature.

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"Final Pro-Life Democrat" at the National Level Dan Lipinski Loses Illinois Primary to Pro-Abortion Candidate

Dan Lipinski
Credit: American Life League / Flickr

Dan Lipinski, whom many are calling the last pro-life Democrat at the national level, lost the primary race for Illinois representative district three to progressive businesswoman Marie Newman during Tuesday's election.

Newman had a 48.2% to 45.8% majority over Lipinski, despite the actions of several pro-life organizations rallying behind him, including heavy spending from the Susan B. Anthony List and grassroots efforts from Students for Life.

Lipinski's record is mixed on abortion-related issues, with his recent vote in favor of the pro-abortion Equal Rights Amendment confusing many, but his opponent campaigned heavily against the pro-life stances Lipinski did take to persuade Democratic voters to reject the incumbent.

It is also argued that the low voter-turnout created by the coronavirus epidemic negatively impacted Lipinski's base more so than his opponent's since campaign events had to be canceled in key areas and older voters may have been more likely to stay home. “Irish Catholics? The 19th Ward? That’s our base,” campaign spokesman Phil Davidson said. “The opportunity just vaporized.”

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Kentucky House Passes First Step to Declaring the State Constitution Doesn't Grant a Right to Abortion

Last Tuesday, the Kentucky House of Representatives voted 67-21 to put a referendum on the ballot about a constitutional amendment which would declare that abortion isn't a right Kentucky's constitution.

The amendment proposed in House Bill 67 states, “To protect human life, nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to secure or protect a right to abortion or require the funding of abortion.”

The proposed amendment will need to pass the Kentucky senate with a three-fifths majority to be put on the ballot for voters in a referendum.

The House also passed House Bill 451, which would grant the Attorney General additional power to regulate abortion facilities if it became law.

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Biden Confirms Complete Flip on Public Abortion Funding

During Sunday night's Democratic presidential primary debate, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders challenged former Vice-President Joe Biden on his record in support of the Hyde Amendment, after which Biden confirmed that his stance on the public funding of abortion has shifted completely since his time in the senate.

“Right now, a woman’s right to control her own body is under massive assault, unprecedented assault,” Sanders said, to which Biden agreed.

“Joe, you have in the past on more than one occasion, voted for the Hyde Amendment,” Bernie continued, “which says that a woman, low-income woman, could not use Medicaid funding for an abortion. Is that still your view or have you modified it?”

Biden responded that this was “not my view,” and further downplayed his earlier support of the Hyde Amendment as if being associated with it was poisonous to his candidacy by saying “by the way, everybody who’s been in the Congress voted for the Hyde Amendment at one point or another, because it was locked in other bills.”

Biden further elaborated on his position: “if we’re going to have public funding for all healthcare along the line, there is no way you could allow for there to be a requirement that you have Hyde Amendment.”

Later in the debate, Biden even copied one of Sanders's campaign promises by saying that he would “send immediately to the desk of the United States Congress (...), a codification of Roe v Wade amended by Casey. Because I think it is a woman’s right to choose. I think it’s a woman’s opportunity to be able to make that decision.”

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Doctors Without Borders Collaborates to Make Instructional DIY Abortion Video

Doctors Without Borders is known most often as
Médecins Sans Frontières outside of the United States.
Credit: Richard Roche / Flickr

Doctors Without Borders, a charitable organization in which medical professionals volunteer to provide health care to people areas struck with disasters such as endemic disease or war, recently surprised many by collaborating with HowToUseAbortionPill.org  to make an instructional video about how to complete at-home abortions using the abortion pill regimen without medical supervision.

Manisha Kumar, head of a task force for "safe abortion care" at Doctors Without Borders, said this to Vice: “This course doesn’t use the phrase ‘self-managed abortion,’ but it intentionally uses non-technical, simple language as much as possible because we want everyone to understand the basics about how a medication abortion or an abortion with pills works. I don’t think there should be any secrecy there.”

There are fears among pro-lifers that the reputation of Doctors Without Borders will cause more women to complete at-home abortion procedures without medical supervision.

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Only Missouri Abortion Clinic Now Referring All Patients to Illinois for Abortions

Planned Parenthood "mega-clinic" in Fairview Heights

Operation Rescue made an undercover call to Missouri's only remaining abortion facility, an unlicensed Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Louis in on-and-off legal battles with the state, and learned that the facility is currently referring all callers seeking abortions to Illinois; a strange move considering only 3 abortions occurred in the clinic last month.

The referrals are also in clear contrast with what Yamelsie Rodriguez, CEO of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, told NPR earlier this month. Then, she suggested that patients were contacting the St. Louis Clinic and then choosing to go to Illinois because they did not want to deal with Missouri's required 72-hour waiting period. "When they are weighing their options, the majority of patients are clearly seeing that abortion access is so unmanageable that they're choosing to cross state lines," Rodriguez said. Operation Rescue's call proves this to be a false statement designed to get political points. Read the transcript below:

Caller: I need to get an abortion appointment in St. Louis.

RHSPP: Our St. Louis, Missouri, location doesn’t have any availability at this time.  We do have available appointments at the Illinois location.

Caller: I’m not really able to travel out of state.  Isn’t there some way you can fit me into the schedule?

RHSPP: We don’t have any op — procedures available at that location at all.

Caller: Oh, like, even though it says online that you offer abortions?

RHSPP: Yes, at this time, the St. Louis, Missouri, location does not have any availability for those services.

Caller: So there’s just no way? Like, you don’t just have a half-hour or an hour that I could get an abortion in St. Louis right now?

RHSPP: No.

Caller: Ok, well, that stinks, because I can’t go out of state. Um, like if I — Is there a way I could pay extra and get the abortion in St. Louis?

RHSPP: No, ma’am.

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