Planned Parenthood supporters march to State House

Feb. 12--PROVIDENCE -- Opposition to President Donald Trump brought yet another weekend protest march to the steps of the State House Saturday, this time supporters of reproductive health-care provider Planned Parenthood.

Although modest in size compared with earlier anti-Trump rallies that brought thousands to the State House lawn on consecutive January weekends, roughly 100 "Defend Planned Parenthood" marchers chanted their way through Federal Hill and downtown Providence.

The march was a response to a number of rallies across the country by anti-abortion groups seeking to strip Planned Parenthood of all federal funding.

There did not appear to be an organized "defund" rally in Rhode Island on Saturday.

Trump has not yet issued any new abortion policies, but pro-choice activists are concerned that he will make it possible for Republicans in Congress to strip funding for Planned Parenthood or that his nominees for the Supreme Court will overturn the Roe v. Wade decision that prevents states from banning abortion.

"It makes us realize that whatever happens in [Washington D.C.] the people of Rhode Island have our back and are going to fight for reproductive rights," said Craig O'Connor, public policy director of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England.

With abortion legal nationally, the state General Assembly has steered clear of abortion bills on either side of the issue, but the prospect of Roe v. Wade being overturned has brought a new focus on the issue there.

"We are asking the General assembly to pass legislation to protect reproductive rights in case something happens at the federal level, like Row v. Wade gets overturned," O'Connor said.

He added that the potential repeal of the Affordable Care Act and insurance coverage for contraception is also a major concern.

State Rep. Aaron Regunberg, D-Providence, was the only state lawmaker at Saturday's march.

The marchers gathered at the Mother of Life Center on Atwells Avenue, which provides counseling on life issues "from a Christian perspective," according to the organization's website.

Vida Mia Ruiz, a Providence resident, midwife and activist, was the chief organizer of the march and said she expects political protests to continue.

"I think that we are going to see more people gathering in the streets marching, putting pressure on elected officials and from that there will be more grassroots organizing than we've seen in the last eight years under Obama," Ruiz said.

Rhode Island's four member Democratic Congressional delegation is holding a town hall event at East Providence High School Sunday and organizers urged marchers to attend.

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