Crowd gathers to protest Planned Parenthood event

About 150 people from across Iowa and neighboring states turned out at Noelridge Park in Cedar Rapids Thursday afternoon to protest an event marking the 30th anniversary of Planned Parenthood of East Central Iowa.

“Across the country Americans are waking up to their personal responsibility to care for women who are facing unintentional pregnancy,” said Eric Scheidler, executive director of Pro-Life Action League, based in Chicago, which led the protest. “We cannot wait for anyone else to solve this, we have to address this issue.”

Protesters gathered around a makeshift stage at the park before marching to spots along Collins Road in front of the Marriott, where national Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards was scheduled to speak later in the evening.

Scheidler told protesters that the FBI was aware of their presence and that the Marriott had requested that protesters trespassing on that property be arrested.

“Don't be afraid, we just don't want anyone to go up onto the property and get arrested,” Scheidler said.

Thursday's event was the first protest Pat Cook of Manchester had ever participated in.

“I'm very strong against abortion and I think I needed to do this,” she said.

People carrying signs that said “Dads Against Abortion” or with pictures of aborted fetuses lined Collins Road for more than an hour shortly after 5 p.m., when traffic is traditionally heavy.

The timing was intentional, according to Steven Brody, executive director of the Dubuque County Right to Life.

“We want to be seen by people who are driving home from work, or who are driving up to the Marriott to see Cecile Richards,” he said. “We want them to see that abortion is nothing to celebrate.”

Brody said before the march that it was “interesting” that Planned Parenthood felt the need to call in the FBI.

“It's going to be a peaceful, prayerful, quiet protest,” he said. “They're going to see people praying and holding up signs. The only time violence ever erupts is when it comes from the other side. It never starts on our side.”

Shortly before the 90-minute protest was set to end, a passenger in a car driving past the picketers got out of the car and confronted protesters.

“I don't need to see no pictures of dead babies,” the man yelled at protesters. A woman in the same car got out and yelled a stream of expletives at a news crew before both people got back in the car and drove away.

It was the only confrontation of the event.