Planned Parenthood Tries to Distance Itself From Founder Margaret Sanger

On Tuesday Planned Parenthood in New York announced it is taking steps to distance itself from its founder, Margaret Sanger.

In a press release posted on its website, the abortion giant wote,

Today, Planned Parenthood of Greater New York announced its plans to remove Margaret Sanger’s name from the Manhattan Health Center as a public commitment to reckon with its founder’s harmful connections to the eugenics movement. PPGNY also announced it is working with the Community Board, City Council and community to rename an honorary street sign that marks the “Margaret Sanger Square” at the intersection of Bleecker and Mott Streets in Manhattan. 

Sanger founded the organization that eventually became Planned Parenthood Federation of America in New York in 1921, and she promoted birth control in African-American communities.

Sanger was a member of the eugenics movement, which pushed for pregnancy prevention and sterilization among so-called “unfit” members of society.

The eugenics movement was notorious in the U.S. and abroad for targeting certain races and ethnic groups as well as the poor, the sick, and the disabled, and Sanger praised eugenics efforts to sterilize the physically and mentally disabled.

Planned Parenthood has worked for years to downplay or dismiss Sanger’s views on eugenics.

Even as recently as 2016 the organization published documents attempting to sanitize many of Sanger’s beliefs and actions.

That could be because Margaret Sanger is so thoroughly woven into the legacy of Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood named its facility in New York after Margaret Sanger.

It worked with city officials to have a street named after her.

Up until 2015, it gave out its highest honor, the Margaret Sanger Award, annually to individuals who align with Planned Parenthood’s mission.

For Planned Parenthood now to try to distance itself from Margaret Sanger is very telling.

However, it’s important to understand that even if Planned Parenthood takes Margaret Sanger’s name off the signs outside its buildings, that won’t change the fact that approximately one in three abortions are performed in a Planned Parenthood facility.

Abortion still targets minorities and women living in poverty both in Arkansas and across the nation.

According to state reports, 46% of all abortions performed in Arkansas in 2019 were on African-American women despite the fact that African-Americans make up approximately 15% – 16% of the state population.

Most abortions performed in Arkansas are on single moms, who face a higher risk of living in poverty.

To put it plainly:

Taking Margaret Sanger’s name off the side of an abortion facility might show that Planned Parenthood is facing tremendous pressure to improve its public image, but it does nothing to change the death and destruction that Planned Parenthood causes every year as the nation’s leading abortion provider.

Planned Parenthood Reports Little Campaign Activity in Arkansas During COVID

On Friday Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes Arkansas filed its quarterly report with the Secretary of State’s office.

The report shows Planned Parenthood’s PAC did virtually no campaigning in Arkansas during the past three months.

Last fall Planned Parenthood’s super PAC pledged to spend at least $45 million on the 2020 elections, nationwide.

The abortion giant has four main goals:

  • Defeat President Trump
  • Flip the U.S. Senate from Republican to Democrat
  • Maintain Democratic control over the U.S. House of Representatives
  • Support liberal candidates in state races

In April Planned Parenthood reported that its political action committee in Arkansas raised $4,558.29 since the beginning of the year.

And earlier this year the group endorsed several candidates running for federal office and for the state legislature in Arkansas.

However, the latest reports show the political action committee Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes Arkansas did not donate to any candidates and conducted virtually no activity in the state from April to June of this year.

Unfortunately, while Planned Parenthood’s political action committee has not been as active in Arkansas during the COVID-19 outbreak, Planned Parenthood’s abortion facility in Little Rock certainly has.

Abortion facilities in Arkansas saw an uptick in women coming to Arkansas from out of state during the spring COVID-19 shutdowns.

That said, it’s worth noting that pollsters have consistently found voters do not agree with Planned Parenthood’s radical efforts to make abortion more accessible.

A recent poll by CBS News found most Americans believe abortion ought to be either completely illegal or legal under fewer circumstances than it currently is.

Time and again surveys have found Americans oppose abortion on demand —  particularly in Arkansas.

Planned Parenthood probably will accelerate its political campaigns in Arkansas and elsewhere between now and November.

The PAC in Arkansas currently has nearly $18,000 in the bank, and it could donate some or all of that money to candidates at any time.

It’s also possible that Planned Parenthood’s super PAC at the national level will budget some money for the political action committee in Arkansas.

However, if public opinion is any indicator, Arkansans simply are not onboard with Planned Parenthood’s pro-abortion message. That’s a good thing.

Read the quarterly report from Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes Arkansas here.