Women’s rights activists mobilize against president’s abortion proposal

<p>Women's rights activists are organizing resistance after President Donald Trump's move to impose new restrictions on federally funded family planning clinics like Planned Parenthood.</p>

News 12 Staff

May 23, 2018, 9:35 PM

Updated 2,175 days ago

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Women's rights activists are organizing resistance after President Donald Trump's move to impose new restrictions on federally funded family planning clinics like Planned Parenthood.
The president has proposed barring clinics that receive federal Title X funding from providing abortions or advising women who are considering abortions in regards to where they should seek them.
"This ruling, it is a gag rule," says Nancy O'Keefe, of Planned Parenthood of Nassau County. "It prohibits providers from talking about abortion."
The president says the proposal is made with taxpayers' interests in mind.
"For decades, American taxpayers have been wrongly forced to subsidize the abortion industry," Trump said. "I pledge to stand for life, and as president, that's exactly what I've done."
But O'Keefe says it limits possibilities for women.
"That's a really dangerous road," she says. "Where do we stop when we don't provide people with the full range of options so they can make the best decisions for themselves?"
There is a 60-day public comment period on the Department of Health and Human Services website before the rule is implemented. Planned Parenthood is urging voters to make their voices heard there.
"We're going to fight it," O'Keefe says. "So hopefully it won't be implemented at all."
Planned Parenthood is holding a rally in Manhattan Thursday evening to protest the president's plan. There will also be rallies held at Health and Human Services offices in 10 states.


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