Pro-abortion activists rally to reverse Planned Parenthood funding ban to chants of: “They not...like us”
Appeals court in Boston set to hear arguments about law that froze Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood
A small number of pro-abortion advocates gathered to chants of “They not…like us” in the shadow of the US federal courthouse in Boston today as oral arguments were set to begin in a case to reverse a lower court ruling from September that said the Trump administration could “defund” Planned Parenthood by blocking it from receiving reimbursements from Medicaid.
According to Reuters, a “provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed by the Republican-led Congress denied certain tax-exempt organizations and their affiliates from receiving Medicaid funds if they continued to provide abortions.”
In July, Massachusetts Citizens for Life celebrated the law: “This sweeping legislation includes a one-year defunding of abortion providers that receive federal Medicaid funding—including Planned Parenthood, which reported over 402,000 abortions in its latest annual report. Despite receiving nearly $800 million in government reimbursements and grants last year, Planned Parenthood will now be ineligible for a significant portion of that funding.”
Planned Parenthood leaders contended today that they’ve serviced 100,000 patients and delivered $45M of “care” since the funds were cutoff in mid-September.
Presumptive Boston City Council President Gabriela Coletta Zapata and Planned Parenthood patient labeled the law “cruel” while other rally speakers equated the law to a “back door abortion ban.”
While Massachusetts AG Andrea Campbel declared “not on our watch” as she praised the “intersectional” work of Planned Parenthood and touted her Reproductive Justice Unit established in 2023.
According to Mass Citizens for Life: “Most Americans have long opposed tax dollars being used to subsidize abortion. Now, for the first time in decades, Congress has responded. Pro-life leaders across the country are calling this a turning point in the effort to end taxpayer complicity in abortion and redirect resources to life-affirming care.”
In September Brittany Fonteno, President & CEO of the pro-abortion National Abortion Federation said ““Anti-abortion extremists remain relentless in their attacks on reproductive health care. This decision isn’t just about one provider — it threatens the entire reproductive health care system, and patients seeking essential care will pay the price.”
In a written statement released yesterday Dominique Lee President and CEO of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts said: “Every person deserves access to health care that is high-quality, affordable, and from a provider they trust. The federal ‘defund’ of Planned Parenthood health centers has caused chaos and confusion for patients, for providers, and for our communities. Nearly 40% of PPLM’s patients rely on Medicaid.”
