WASHINGTON 鈥� On Saturday, supporters crammed into a D.C.聽church to share stories and show solidarity with those killed in the Planned Parenthood shooting in Colorado last week.
Cazembe Jackson visited Planned Parenthood 15 years ago.聽鈥淲hen I heard about it [the shooting], I was like, 鈥榃ow, that could have been me!鈥欌�� Jackson told 草莓传媒.
In addition to people who have used Planned Parenthood鈥檚 services, leaders from other groups, such as the SEIU,聽came to show support. There was even representation from the White House.
鈥淭oo often, these acts of violence are attempts to silence our voices and undermine our most cherished values: freedom, equality and opportunity,鈥� said Tina Tchen, chief of staff to First Lady Michelle Obama. Tchen was reading a statement from President Obama said.
Dawn Leguens, Planned Parenthood’s聽executive vice president, said she wanted to make sure the nonprofit’s聽message was clear. 鈥淲e deplore your violence. We reject your threats. Our doors stay open,鈥� said Leguens, leading the crowd in a chant.
鈥淚t is not enough to denounce the tragedy in Colorado without also denouncing the poisonous rhetoric that fueled it and the weaponry that enabled it,鈥� she said.
A microphone was then passed around in the audience, where people were able to share their personal stories about why they were showing solidarity with Planned Parenthood.
鈥淲e鈥檙e in D.C. That happened in Colorado,鈥� Planned Parenthood worker Jannera Cruz said. 鈥淎nd we鈥檙e all coming together to say, 鈥楬ey, we have you in our hearts right now.鈥欌��
