International Women’s Day: Abortion advocates protest the recent opening of an anti-abortion “crisis pregnancy center” in Old Town
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, March 4, 2024
CHICAGO, IL -- Advocates for abortion access and full bodily autonomy will honor International Women’s Day at 5:30 PM on Friday, March 8th by hosting a rally and protest outside of Women’s Care Center (1212 N. La Salle Drive), an anti-abortion “crisis pregnancy center” (CPC) which recently opened immediately next door to Planned Parenthood.
“International Women’s Day on March 8th is a day to celebrate the achievements of women worldwide, but it is also a call to action for all of us who believe in gender equity to continue the fight for bodily autonomy and reproductive justice,” said Lisa Battisfore, founder of Reproductive Transparency Now. “Many Illinoisans believe that they live in a ‘safe state’ because abortion is protected by current laws, but what they may not realize is that anti-choice and anti-LGBTQ+ groups are working locally every single day to systematically strip people of their bodily autonomy.”
One important example of these anti-choice efforts is the recent opening of Women's Care Center in the Old Town neighborhood of Chicago. Women’s Care Center is an Indiana-based network of more than 35 anti-abortion “crisis pregnancy centers,” or CPCs. This new location is the third Women’s Care Center in Illinois, preceded by those in Peoria and La Grange.
“Although there are nearly 100 anti-abortion CPCs in the state of Illinois, a number which is likely to grow in coming years, it is important for residents to understand the significance of this particular location,” Battisfore said. “Women’s Care Center has employed a tactic known as ‘clinic co-location,’ which means they have opened immediately next door to a medical clinic that provides abortion care in an effort to intercept people who are considering ending their pregnancy.”
Anti-abortion “crisis pregnancy centers” also use digital advertising to intercept people seeking abortion care. For example, Women’s Care Center is running a Google paid search ad in Chicago as of March 3rd with the headline: “Walk-Ins Welcome - Abortion - Chicago”.
Crisis pregnancy centers’ goal is to lure clients whom they consider to be “abortion-vulnerable” or “abortion-minded” with insincere promises of unbiased pregnancy options counseling. But what these centers do not openly advertise is that they are staunchly anti-choice and have already decided that abortion is always a wrong decision. Anti-abortion CPCs are strongly biased and therefore unable to act in their clients’ best interests.
“The disinformation and false promises given by crisis pregnancy centers flies in the face of our struggle for comprehensive and timely medical care,” said Linda Loew, co-leader of Chicago for Abortion Rights. “Marginalized groups, including pregnant people of color, young people, and those with limited financial resources, suffer the most when access to abortion is blocked or delayed."
Friday’s action will alert nearby residents and community members about the harmful anti-abortion forces at work in their own backyard. The 5:30 PM rally and protest is co-initiated by Reproductive Transparency Now and Chicago for Abortion Rights. View full event details on the event registration page. Speakers and additional supporting organizations will be announced later this week.
ABOUT REPRODUCTIVE TRANSPARENCY NOW
Reproductive Transparency Now (RTN) is a Chicago-based grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing reproductive justice by raising public awareness about anti-abortion “crisis pregnancy centers” (CPCs) through direct action, education, and public advocacy.
ABOUT CHICAGO FOR ABORTION RIGHTS
Chicago for Abortion Rights (CFAR) is an intersectional network of individuals, activist groups, and community members united in the fight for abortion rights for every person. CFAR demands the preservation of existing reproductive rights and the expansion of full reproductive justice for all individuals.
For media inquiries, contact: info@reprotransparency.org.
# # #