April 24, 2008 - Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02), today participated in a press conference in which several leaders of the African-American pro-life community, as well as Students for Life of America, led a demonstration outside a Planned Parenthood clinic in an effort to expose the racist policies of the largest abortion provider in the nation.  The demonstration came in response to several recordings of Planned Parenthood employees agreeing to accept donations and earmark them specifically to abort black babies. (E.g. the following recent YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LJVPVh5TWo)

“After hearing the compelling testimonies of some of our nations most astute and eloquent African-American leaders at today’s press conference, I promised them that I would introduce legislation that would prevent abortion that is based solely on the race or gender of the child.” Franks stated.  “That is a promise I intend to keep.”

"In spite of the tragic division that was thrust upon us by Roe vs. Wade, I believe most Americans are pro-life in their hearts.  It is the core value and central theme in our Declaration of Independence, as well our Constitution which says ‘No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.’

“While we may still be divided on the issue in many ways, the despicable idea of aborting an unborn child based solely on the child’s gender or race is something that all of the human family must unequivocally reject.”

Day Gardner, president of the National Black Pro-Life Union, stated, “African Americans are having abortions at a hugely disproportionate rate according to their population and Planned Parenthood has no shame whatsoever in accepting money that specifically targets our community.”

Currently, Planned Parenthood receives approximately $300 million in federal funding every year.  The Alan Guttmacher Institute, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), show that a huge majority of abortion clinics are located in minority neighborhoods and some experts estimate the number at higher than 75%.