Planned Parenthood protest hits Richmond

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - Hundreds protested Planned Parenthood on Saturday in Richmond. More than 300 demonstrations took place across the country after controversial videos claimed to show the non-profit selling fetal body parts.

"Not your body, not your choice. This is my son at 13 weeks gestation. And that is him now. He obviously is not part of my body, he has his own body. And he deserves a right to live," said Nina Fulcher.

The protesters are demanding that taxpayer money stop going to clinics after claims that Planned Parenthood profits from the sale of fetal tissue. It's a statement the non-profit denies and adds that no tax dollars are allowed to cover abortions, except for Medicaid patients in the case of rape, incest or life threatening pregnancies.

"43 percent of our health centers are in medically undeserved communities. So in some places, women would go without care," said Cianti Stewart-Reid, Planned Parenthood.

This is the largest campaign to defund the organization in years. After abortion opponents posed as medical representatives, looking for tissue for research. Hidden camera video captured their interactions with Planned Parenthood.

"Virginians are shocked and appalled by what they've seen in these Planned Parenthood videos," said Victoria Cobb, The Family Foundation of Virginia.

The group admits it has fetal donation programs but not in Virginia officials say they're in California, Oregon and Washington. Tissue is provided to researchers only with patients' consent and Planned Parenthood says the videos don't show the truth.

"They were deceptive and misleadingly edited, and we know the real aim of those videos is to ban abortion" said Cianta Stewart-Reid, Planned Parenthood.

For now the protesters say at the very least there needs to be an investigation with the precious gift of life and public trust at stake.

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