According to Planned Parenthood’s website, most women “ultimately feel relief” after having an abortion. In fact, the website asserts that sustained “emotional problems” after an abortion are not typical—just like when a woman has a baby.
“I’m here to refute those words,” said Andrea Pearson, regional coordinator from the pro-life organization Silent No More.
Carrying a sign reading, “I Regret My Abortion,” Pearson shared her story at a #WomenBetrayed rally outside the Capitol on Tuesday, along with other speakers in the pro-life movement.
When Pearson was 18 years old, she became pregnant. After going to Planned Parenthood, Pearson said she left the clinic feeling as if there were no alternative options.
She wasn’t counseled. She wasn’t told of the consequences ahead. She just made an appointment and left the clinic.
When Pearson went to Planned Parenthood for the procedure, she justified the abortion by arguing that it was legal. But once she left the clinic, Pearson said she felt shame and was overcome with depression.
“In the days and months following my abortion, I would relive that procedure. I would vividly remember, and still do, the sounds of the suction, the physical pain, the coldness of the room and the other women’s vacant stares,” Pearson said. “The full impact of my decision and its consequences were starting to evolve.”
Although Pearson had two more abortions following her first, she since has become an advocate in the pro-life movement.
And that pro-life movement is growing.
As a third video from the Center for Medical Progress was released Tuesday, Pearson joined others at the #WomenBetrayed rally, organized by Students for Life of America, to discuss the misdemeanors of Planned Parenthood and why the 501(c)(3) should be defunded.
According to Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., Planned Parenthood exploits women and their babies, as evidenced in the recent videos.
“Take a look at those body parts in the petri dish. Take a look at them,” Harris said. “You can identify what parts they are if you took a biology course. Those are human parts.”
“Women are betrayed in Planned Parenthood clinics,” Harris continued. “The war on women is occurring in Planned Parenthood clinics every day.”
In 2013 alone, Planned Parenthood performed 327,653 abortions, and 94 percent of its pregnancy services were abortions. In just three years, from 2011-2013, almost 1 million abortions were performed by Planned Parenthood.
Furthermore, according to Planned Parenthood’s 2013-2014 annual report, 41 percent of Planned Parenthood’s total revenue is derived from taxpayer funding.
Dr. Ben Carson and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said the words of the Declaration of Independence remain intact today and that Americans should question whether Planned Parenthood is supporting their values.
“There can be no liberty and pursuit of happiness if there is no life,” Carson said. “Why don’t they [Planned Parenthood] spend their time trying to save human life?”
“I would encourage every American to watch these videos,” Cruz said. “There is no ambiguity in what we’re seeing.”
Additionally, the Family Research Council’s Arina Grossu said the videos expose the truth of Planned Parenthood’s actions as baby trafficking.
“Planned Parenthood has now been caught red-handed in baby organ trafficking, endangering women by changing abortion methods to procure intact organs, possibly violating the partial-birth abortion ban,” Grossu said. “Why are we funding such a depraved organization with our hard-earned taxpayer money? This must stop. Enough is enough.”
