Demonstrations begin before Democrats gather in Philly
A small group of anti-abortion protesters marched Saturday to the notorious West Philadelphia abortion clinic once operated by Kermit Gosnell, where they chanted "DNC, defend unborn children" as a plane flew overhead carrying that message on an aerial banner.
A small group of anti-abortion protesters marched Saturday to the notorious West Philadelphia abortion clinic once operated by Kermit Gosnell, where they chanted "DNC, defend unborn children" as a plane flew overhead carrying that message on an aerial banner.
The group of 30 opposing the candidacy of Hillary Clinton was the first of many protest and advocacy groups scheduled to take the streets in the runup to the Democratic National Convention, which opens on Monday.
Among the speakers was Catherine Foster, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney who was in Cleveland for the Republican National Convention earlier in the week.
"We [the GOP] have the most pro-life platform in decades," she said.
Clenard Childress of LEARN, an African-American, evangelical, anti-abortion group, said it is hypocritical for Planned Parenthood to stand with Black Lives Matter, given the number of African Americans "targeted by the abortion industry."
"You're a hypocrite unless you deal with the 1,700 African American children killed each day by abortion," he said.
Gosnell's Women's Medical Society clinic at 3801 Lancaster Avenue, was the scene of gruesome late-term abortions performed on women, many of them poor and minority, for years before authorities shut it down in 2011.
Gosnell was charged with eight counts of murder - seven involving newborns whose spinal cords were cut with scissors after they were born alive - and numerous felony counts of performing illegal abortions beyond Pennsylvania's limit of 24-weeks' gestation. He was convicted of first-degree murder in the deaths of three of the newborns and of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a woman who died after an abortion.
Gosnell, 75, is serving a life prison sentence plus 30 years.
The case did not point to a lack of regulations but rather city and state failures to inspect the clinic and enforce existing laws.
"We must never, ever forget what happened here," said obstetrician-gynecologist Monique Ruberu, of Philadelphia. Without mentioning GOP nominee Donald Trump by name, Ruberu said "Only one candidate is pro-life. ... we must vote for life."
Many cars honked in support of the rally outside the clinic, which has been a common gathering place for anti-abortion demonstrations in the past. At one point, two teenagers walked through the group, urging "Vote Donald Trump!" One woman booed loudly from across the street.
The protesters gathered at the Newman Center on the University of Pennsylvania campus for Catholic Mass before the rally and marched about five blocks to the Gosnell clinic.
Among them were a man carrying a poster with a quote by children's author Dr. Seuss: "A person's a person, no matter how small. "Walking in between the crowd was a man carrying a cross.
Also on Saturday, and on the other side of the political aisle, state Democrats protested Donald Trump outside of Republican House candidate Brian Fitzpatrick's ice cream social in Levittown.
Demonstrations are expected to kick into high gear around the city on Sunday and grow in numbers headed into the convention which runs Monday through Thursday. More than 30 demonstrations are planned throughout the city, many in support of Clinton's primary challenger Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.).
A sampling of some of the larger demonstrations include a March for Bernie 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday starting at the Municipal Services Building plaza and a 5,000-person enviornmental march, also on Sunday, from City Hall to Independence Hall.
Monday the Poor People's Economic Human Right's Campaign will march down Broad Street starting at 2 p.m. to raise awareness for homelessness and poverty in the city.
Sanders demonstrations are planned all day Tuesday at the Municipal Services Building as well as at FDR Park. The Black DNC Resistance March will kick off at 15th and Diamond at 2 p.m. Tuesday to rally against abuse policing.
Wednesday a Ride DNC bike ride launches from Broad and Cheltenham at 6:30 p.m.
Several events in support of Sanders and Green Party candidate Jill Stein are slated for FDR Park Thursday when Clinton is slated to accept the nomination. Friday a group has pledged to protest in Independence Mall where the presumptive nominee will hold a rally.
215-854-5506
@juliaterruso