As our week of Prayer ends, we begin our 12 Days and Ways to #DefundPP.
Last Saturday, we had 87 people at the Week of Prayer kickoff. We had coverage from Channels 44 and 5 http://www.wptz.com/…/protestors-want-planned-pare…/34864332. And some of you asked for the Week of Prayer Kickoff Booklet.
We’ve had a great start, but it is just a start. We have more yet to do. So in that vein, here are twelve days and ways to help #DefundPP. Watch our Social Media for Daily Posts starting Sunday, August 30.
1. Watch and share the videos.
Watch and share the videos. It’s hard to hear someone talk so flippantly about selling baby parts, but it is something that people need to know is happening. So if you haven’t already, please watch and share the videos that have, so far, been made available:
The first, second, fourth, and fifth videos (including complete, unedited versions, and transcripts) can be found at this link:
http://www.centerformedicalprogress.org/cmp/investigative-footage
The third video, which they are calling “Episode One” of its “Documentary Web Series,” can be seen here:
http://www.centerformedicalprogress.org/human-capital/documentary-web-series
2. Contact Senators Leahy and Sanders
Contact Vermont’s U.S. Senators Leahy and Sanders to express your disappointment for not voting to defund Planned Parenthood. Keep urging them to support all efforts to defund Planned Parenthood.
Legislation has been introduced that would not only defund Planned Parenthood, but would also take the funds slated for Planned Parenthood and send them to agencies providing legitimate women’s healthcare. On Monday, August 3, Senators Leahy and Sanders voted against “cloture” for that legislation, which essentially means that a vote on this important bill could not take place.
Nationally, on an annual basis, Planned Parenthood receives over $540.6 million dollars of taxpayer funded government grants and $1.21 billion in revenues. (Vermont’s share of the Title X Family Planning Grant is $1.5 million, the entirety of which is allotted to Planned Parenthood clinics located in the state.) In the hidden-camera videos, Planned Parenthood appears to be involved in the sale of body parts from aborted babies, which is a federal crime. As a recipient of taxpayer funding, these allegations need to be investigated.
Patrick Leahy: http://www.leahy.senate.gov (202) 224-4242 (802) 863-2525
Bernie Sanders: http://www.sanders.senate.gov (202) 224-5141 (802) 862-0697
3. Contact Representative Peter Welch
Contact Vermont’s U.S. Representative Peter Welch and ask him to support any legislative efforts to defund Planned Parenthood and to investigate the abortion giant on the alleged selling of body parts from aborted babies.
Peter Welch: http://www.welch.house.gov (202) 225-4115 (802) 652-2450
4. Contact your VT State Reps and Senators.
Contact your Vermont state representative(s) and state senator(s) to demand that the legislature stop funding Planned Parenthood. In addition, ask that Planned Parenthood clinics be investigated to see if those clinics are also profiting from the sale of aborted fetal body parts and to investigate whether Planned Parenthood is dealing responsibly with young people.
Unlike most states, Planned Parenthood of Vermont is granted the entire allotment of the federal Title X funding by the Vermont Health Department annually, which amounts to $1.5 million, as mentioned above. In addition, Vermont Planned Parenthood clinics also receive an annual gift of $300,000.000 from Vermont’s General Fund
To find out who your state representative(s) and state senator(s) are, and for contact information, please see the state legislative directories at these links:
Vermont House: http://legislature.vermont.gov/people/all/2016/House
Vermont Senate: http://legislature.vermont.gov/people/all/2016/Senate
5. Speak out for the sanctity of life.
More than politicians need to hear this message. Look for opportunities to defend the unborn; such as on Facebook, Twitter, local talk radio, etc. If you need resources to help you gain a better understanding about abortion in Vermont, Planned Parenthood, or the undercover videos, call us at the Vermont Right to Life office, and we will do our best to help you.
Many ears can be reached by local talk radio shows that accept comments from callers. Here are a few ideas:
Mark Johnson Show: WDEV 96.1 FM and 550 AM, 9:00-11:00, weekdays,
Vermont Edition: Vermont Public Radio, Noon & 7:00 pm, weekdays, www.vpr.net
Charlie, Ernie, & Lisa: WVMT 620 AM, 6:00-10:00 a.m., weekdays, newstalk620wvmt.com
(Check websites for these stations in your area of the state.)
Let the truths and facts about Planned Parenthood’s abortion practices be known to as many as possible. Write a 200-250 word piece and submit to your regional newspaper. Here are a few of the major newspapers in Vermont. Also submit letters to your local newspapers.
Burlington Free Press: letters@burlingtonfreepress.com (Word limits: Letters 250, It’s My Turn 650)
Rutland Herald: www.rutlandherald.com/section/OPINION (Letters – 250-word limit)
Times Argus: www.timesargus.com/section/OPINION (Letters – 250-word limit)
Caledonia Record: www.caledonianrecord.com
6. Join VRLC monthly protests at PP locations in VT
Join VRLC monthly protests at Planned Parenthood locations in Vermont.
More than ever, it is critical to publicly show opposition to Planned Parenthood! Each month, there are protests held on the third Saturday at Planned Parenthood clinics in Vermont for one hour. Please join us at locations in Burlington from 10am to 11am, Barre from 11:00am to noon, and Rutland from 10:00 to 11:00; or form a group to do the same in your county. VRLC chapters provide the signs.
7. Support Vermont Right to Life Committee financially.
Support the Vermont Right to Life Committee financially.
Vermont Right to Life Committee serves as the coordinating body for local pro-life chapters representing thousands of Vermont citizens working to restore respect for all human life in our society. VRLC is composed of people of different political persuasions, various faiths, and diverse economic, social and ethnic backgrounds. Diverse though we are, we hold one common belief–that every human being has an inalienable right to life that is precious and must be protected. The Vermont Right to Life Committee distributes thousands of pieces of educational material yearly, has organized countywide chapters, enlists the help of key contacts, speakers and volunteers all across the state, and has identified over 20,000 pro-life households. VRLC produces a regular newsletter entitled the “REVIEW,” maintains a central office in Montpelier, and employs a full time Executive Director and a part-time secretary, and maintains a presence at the State House in order to advocate, on your behalf, for life.
8. Follow and Share our Social Media.
Find us online. We’re on: Facebook Twitter Instagram Google+
9. Attend VRLC County chapter meetings
Attend VRLC County chapter meetings. Addison, Caledonia, Chittenden, Franklin, Orange and Washington.
10. Support your local Pregnancy Care Center.
Support your local Pregnancy Care Center. Pregnancy centers in Vermont can be found in every county. Look for CareNet and Birthright. Catholic Charities also helps pregnant mothers and offers post-abortive healing.
11. Find out if PP is in your school system.
Find out if Planned Parenthood is in your school system.
For many school districts across the country the largest abortion provider is also sponsoring health education classes for teachers, and at Burlington High School, South Burlington High School and Champlain Valley Union High School, Planned Parenthood is recruiting “peer counselors.” Contact your school district to find out if Planned Parenthood is in your school.
12. Pray.
Last, but not least, pray for the end of abortion in America. Pray for mothers who are considering abortion and for mothers who are post-abortive. Pray for those in the abortion business, that they will leave their jobs. Pray for those who pray outside abortion clinics. Pray for all those involved in ending abortion, especially for David Daleiden and his team at the Center for Medical Progress, who are on the very front lines of the battle. Pray for all of us at Vermont Right to Life and its chapters. And pray for the 50 million babies who have lost their lives to abortion since Roe v. Wade.
