Washington, DC -- Today, Media Matters Action Network joined 26 progressive organizations in sending a letter to members of Congress to express their “opposition to any effort to defund Planned Parenthood.” Planned Parenthood has come under attack from conservatives after Lila Rose, an Andrew Breitbart-promoted videographer, presented heavily edited video she claims proves the organization engaged in systemic criminal activities.
The letter reads, in part:
These attacks are not about the issue of choice. Instead they are designed to systematically vilify and destroy institutions dedicated to helping America’s most vulnerable citizens with "evidence" that does not support their claims. They're about disempowering those who don’t share their world view. And they're about intimidating those in desperate need of help.
BACKGROUND
This week, Rose’s organization, Live Action, released the latest in a series of heavily edited videos that it claims exposes what the group calls “Planned Parenthood’s cover-up of child sex trafficking.” Of course, that isn’t the case at all. Planned Parenthood had already reported the “potential sex trafficking” to law enforcement officials.
That’s why Media Matters Action Network has joined 26 organizations, including EMILY’s List, People For The American Way, NARAL Pro-Choice America and Service Employees International Union in standing united against any effort to defund Planned Parenthood.
The full text of the letter reads:
Dear Members of Congress,
Right-wing groups are once again attempting to destroy an organization dedicated to providing crucial primary care services to Americans that need them most. Armed with heavily edited videos, countless lies, and a shameless echo chamber that repeats unfounded accusations ad nauseam, they’ve now turned their sights to Planned Parenthood, which offers a range of important health and reproductive services that help both women and men prevent unintended pregnancies and provide screenings for cervical and other cancers.
We are writing to inform you that our organizations stand united in opposition to any effort to defund Planned Parenthood.
These attacks are not about the issue of choice. Instead they are designed to systematically vilify and destroy institutions dedicated to helping America’s most vulnerable citizens with "evidence" that does not support their claims. They're about disempowering those who don’t share their world view. And they're about intimidating those in desperate need of help.
Your constituents sent you to Washington to be a strong advocate for their interests and stand up for the quintessential American values of justice and fairness -- and this latest digital witch hunt is neither just nor fair.
Sincerely,
Julian Bond, Board Chairman Emeritus, NAACP
Accountable America
African American Ministers in Action
Alliance for Justice
Center for Community Change
Center for Media & Democracy
Common Cause
Courage Campaign
CREDO Action
Demos
EMILY's List
Feminist Majority Foundation
Friends of the Earth
Keystone Progress
Media Matters Action Network
Midwest Academy
MoveOn.org Political Action
NARAL Pro-Choice America
National People's Action
People For the American Way
ProgressNow
Project Vote
Public Campaign
Service Employees International Union
Sierra Club
USAction
Voices for Progress
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