Providers, advocates, and legislators in Illinois gathered Tuesday for a roundtable discussion about the increase in harassment against abortion patients and providers since 2022.
Senator Adriane Johnson and Representative Mary Beth Canty spoke with Jennifer Welch, the President of Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, along with other Planned Parenthood staff.
Planned Parenthood organization said in a joint statement, quote, "As Illinois is now a beacon for abortion access in the Midwest and beyond, we have also become a target for violent extremists and harassment... we will never stop fighting to ensure that everyone can access the health care they need- free from harassment, intimidation, or threats."
According to a study by the National Abortion Federation, there has been a significant increase in violence against abortion providers since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. There has been a one hundred percent increase in cases of arson, a twenty percent increase in death threats, and a twenty-five percent increase in health center invasions.
