The Fitchburg protest outside a Planned Parenthood site has been postponed to noon Saturday, February 18 because of snow.
BOSTON — President Donald Trump and members of Congress have promised that the United States will soon see an end to taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood. On Saturday, protests across the nation will call on them to follow through and strip the organization of federal funding.
Organized by local pro-life organizations under the banner of “Protest PP,” more than 200 rallies will take place in 45 states. Four have been scheduled in Massachusetts alone, and Anne Fox, the president of Massachusetts Citizens for Life, has been calling for Bay Staters to join their local rallies and “demand immediate defunding from Washington.”
Since August 2015, Protest PP has orchestrated five such rallies across the nation, each time bringing out tens of thousands of pro-lifers nationwide. Monica Miller from the Citizens for a Pro-Life Society and one of the lead organizers of ProtestPP, spoke with New Boston Post this morning, and credited their massive success to local leaders and grassroots movements.
Although the goal of the protests is for the defunding of Planned Parenthood, Miller says their immediate priority is serving as a prayerful witness for the defense of the sanctity of life.
The protest leaders say there is some expectation of counter-protests. Rita Russo, one of the organizers of ProtestPP Boston had words of encouragement for fellow pro-life ralliers, saying in an email message:
“Threats of [counter]protests are usually way overblown. I will ask my people to … pray as a response to hostility. It is a simple recipe. We will put on the armor of God and continue to hold on to the high ground!”
Sandra Kucharski from ProtestPP Worcester added: “If counter protestors come we will continue with the rally program since our purpose in being there is to be the voice of the voiceless. In addition it is important to remember that counter protesters at our rally can give more media attention to our cause.”
Johanna Kaiser, the media relations manager at Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, told New Boston Post that Planned Parenthood does not officially condone counter protests outside of their clinics, and encourages their supporters to seek other ways, such as political activism and donations, to get involved in the organization.
More information on the protests can be found at ProtestPP.com, which has not only a detailed list of locations for Saturday’s rallies, but also contains information on how organize and promote protests in your area.
For Massachusetts residents hoping to join in Saturday’s protests, here is the list of the four rallies occurring throughout the state:
ProtestPP Boston
Planned Parenthood, 1055 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston
9 a.m. Helpers of God’s Precious Infants Prayer Vigil
10:30 a.m. Defund Planned Parenthood Protest with speakers
(AP file Photo/Eric Gay) 
