HotSpots for June 1–30, 2010
HotSpots is a summary of incidents of harassment and violence directed at Planned Parenthood affiliates, national offices, and other reproductive health care providers, produced monthly by Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc.
Georgia 06/26/10 Two windows in a Planned Parenthood health center were broken by rocks and a bench outside the center was damaged.
California 06/24/10 A Planned Parenthood health center received a packet of anti-abortion brochures, articles, pictures, and handwritten notes.
California 06/22/10 A protester blocked a Planned Parenthood health center entranceway with his bicycle.
Colorado 06/21/10 A letter was found taped to the door of a Planned Parenthood health center. The letter asked staff to stop "killing babies."
Colorado 06/17/10 A Planned Parenthood health center received an envelope containing anti-Planned Parenthood material.
Georgia 06/17/10 Three Planned Parenthood health centers received envelopes containing Bible quotations and handwritten notes with references to staff "going to hell" for their actions.
Connecticut 06/16/10 Two protesters outside a Planned Parenthood health center partially blocked the entrance to the health center with their car, which had anti-abortion images leaning on it.
Arizona 06/15/10 A protester blocked the entrance to a Planned Parenthood health center driveway when a vehicle attempted to enter the parking lot.
California 06/15/10 A Planned Parenthood health center received multiple telephone bomb threats.
Texas 06/15/10 A protester entered a Planned Parenthood health center, pounded on the lobby door, and obstructed a patient who was trying to enter.
Colorado 06/14/10 A Planned Parenthood health center received a note card on which was written "Stop killing babies!"
New Jersey 06/13/10 A group of protesters outside a Planned Parenthood health center included a man who was holding a Bible and screaming at everyone who walked by. As these protesters left, a second group of protesters arrived. The two groups briefly spoke to one another, but the second group was not loud. They carried literature on adoption and foster care and asked everyone who passed by if they worked for Planned Parenthood.
California 06/13/10 Pictures of male genitals were found spray-painted on the driveway, a glass door, and a window of a Planned Parenthood health center.
Arizona 06/11/10 A person parked in front of a Planned Parenthood health center with anti-abortion pictures displayed on the side of the car.
Nevada 06/10/10 A man approached a group of patients waiting for a Planned Parenthood health center to open and asked them if they were "butchers out to lunch." Health center staff had seen the man trying to open the health center door five minutes prior to opening.
Illinois 06/10/10 A Planned Parenthood health center sign was vandalized with red paint or marker. The vandal drew a peace sign and a swastika and underlined the words "affordable birth control."
Colorado 06/09/10 A patient's boyfriend called a Planned Parenthood health center and stated he was coming to the health center to "get her." The boyfriend did not appear at the health center and the patient was treated without incident.
Washington 06/09/10 A patient's husband, child, sister, and church associate were at a Planned Parenthood health center to "convince" the patient not to terminate her pregnancy. After some commotion, the husband left the health center with the child. The sister and church associate remained outside as the patient returned to the health center for her procedure. None of the individuals interfered with any other clients.
New York 06/05/10 A group of protesters led by a priest held a 40-minute prayer vigil outside a Planned Parenthood health center.
Wisconsin 06/05/10 A group of protesters were outside a Planned Parenthood health center, praying on private property. A security guard asked the group to leave and they complied.
Virginia 06/04/10 A group of protesters from a local church approached patients outside a Planned Parenthood health center and engaged in verbal confrontations.