Four days before the scheduled opening of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Aurora, an estimated 800 abortion protesters huddled around community religious leaders Saturday morning and called for closure of the new clinic and an end to abortion.
Standing in an empty field in front of the Planned Parenthood clinic building, which is scheduled to open Tuesday, clergy from across denominations called for the protesters to band together to work against the clinic and its presence in the city. The event was in response to statements earlier in the week from Chicago and suburban religious leaders who spoke out in favor of the clinic and women’s reproductive rights.
“Satan has been able to creep into our gospel. Jesus said that this is my body, take and eat from it. Now, we hear people say that this is my body, I can do what I want with it,” said Rev. Martin Heinz of Holy Angels Catholic Church in Aurora.
Before the prayer rally, protesters carrying signs and singing hymns marched in seven groups of more than 100 through residential areas surrounding the clinic. Eric Scheidler, communications director for the Pro-Life Action League, called the march a “Jericho walk,” comparing their protest around the clinic to the biblical walk around the “impenetrable fortress of Jericho.”
Originally, protest organizers had intended to make seven loops around the area where the clinic is, but on Friday, the city sought a temporary restraining order in federal court in Chicago, saying the march would violate an ordinance prohibiting marching through neighborhoods. Officials said the city had received calls from residents concerned about the protesters, but Pro-Life Action League officials argued that the move would violate their free speech rights.
A ruling by U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall allowed the protest to go forward, but on a smaller scale.
Also in federal court Friday, Planned Parenthood sought a court order to allow it to open on time. That was put off until Monday.
Gemini Office Development LLC applied for permits for a building at 3051 E. New York St., not revealing until recently that Planned Parenthood would operate an abortion clinic there. Since word got out in late July, the site has been the scene of round-the-clock candle vigils.
More than 1,000 people showed up at a protest outside the clinic Aug. 25 and hundreds have spoken out at Aurora City Council meetings.
Although the city already issued Planned Parenthood a temporary occupancy certificate, Aurora officials have said they would not issue a permanent one until an investigation is completed into the approval process. The temporary occupancy certificate expires Monday. Planned Parenthood filed suit Thursday, stating that the review has become political.
The $7.5 million, 22,000-square-foot medical facility, one of the group’s largest in the country, will offer reproductive health-care services, including abortions.
Scheidler said that the Pro-Life Action League has scheduled a men’s vigil from midnight to 8 a.m. Tuesday and plans a protest from 8 to 10 a.m. with multiple clergy leaders and abortion protesters.
“Either way I will be out there,” Scheidler said. “If Planned Parenthood doesn’t open, then I’ll be out there celebrating. If it does, then I’ll be out there gearing up for the next phase against Planned Parenthood.”
