For Immediate Release
May 20, 2013
CONTACT:
Heather Gims, Director of Communications
Phone: 513.729.3600
Email: heather.gims@lifeissues.org
The recent trial of abortionist Kermit Gosnell has brought attention to the issue of race and abortion. He was convicted of first-degree murder in the deaths of three babies and of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a 41-year-old abortion patient. It is alleged that Gosnell preyed upon poor minority women at his late-term abortion mill. It raises the question, is targeting of minorities actually taking place in the abortion industry?
A statistic frequently quoted by the media is from a 2011 Guttmacher Institute study that states only 9% of abortion facilities are located in predominantly Black neighborhoods. However, new research from Protecting Black Life reveals that Guttmacher’s study does not tell the whole story.
The nation’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, does not follow that trend. In fact, an overwhelming majority of Planned Parenthood surgical abortion facilities are placed within walking distance of minority neighborhoods. This new research shows that 62% of Planned Parenthood surgical abortion facilities are located within walking distance of relatively high African American populations. And a staggering 79% of Planned Parenthood surgical abortion facilities are located within walking distance of African American and/or Hispanic communities.
While previous studies have typically looked at large geographical areas such as zip codes, Protecting Black Life’s research is considerably more thorough and reliable because it analyzes population data at a much closer level using 2010 Census tract data. The Census tract approach provides a very consistent, in-depth and detailed look at the demographics of the population landscape.
To demonstrate the research results, Protecting Black Life has created an illustrated map integrated with Google Maps functionality, including the ability to zoom down to the street level of each location. The interactive map gives an up close and personal view of just how many of these abortion facilities are located near minority neighborhoods. The full research results, map and accompanying resources are available at www.ProtectingBlackLife.org.
Arnold M. Culbreath, Director of Protecting Black Life says, “Minority neighborhoods are the #1 targets of Planned Parenthood. It’s no wonder abortion remains the leading cause of death among African Americans, higher than all other causes combined. Getting this information to as many people as possible is not only critical, it’s a matter of life and death for countless babies and oft times, as in the Gosnell case, even their mothers.”
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About Protecting Black Life: Protecting Black Life is an outreach of Life Issues Institute, with a primary objective of informing the African American community how we are being targeted by the abortion industry. It provides education, resources and assistance in the development and implementation of strategies to lower and eventually eliminate the problem of abortion in the Black community. For more information, visit the website: www.ProtectingBlackLife.org.
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