Supporters, protestors turn out for Planned Parenthood's new facility opening

Planned Parenthood Fairview Heights
Photo credit Maria Keena/KMOX

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. (KMOX) — After more than a year of building a new facility in secrecy, Planned Parenthood officially opened its newest facility in Fairview Heights this week. 

A small group of protesters and supporters were on hand when KMOX's Carol Daniel stopped by. 

Planned Parenthood now open in Fairview Heights, Il. Small group of both anti-abortion and pro-choice on site. @kmoxnews pic.twitter.com/HLwZHTLsTa

— Carol Daniel (@caroldanielKMOX) October 23, 2019

With emotions running high, one pro-life supporter, a mother herself, said she wanted to cry seeing a woman walk into the clinic with a child. 

She went on to tell us that "people overlook so many people that do want children and can't have them, but they (women seeking abortions) are so blessed to have a child." 

One woman who works with victims of sexual violence was packing up her pro-choice signs including one that read, "your uterus, your choice" when KMOX News approached. 

She stated, "we are just trying to show our support for an organization that helps women and men." 

Women weren't the only people on both sides of the issue at the facility; Daniel spoke with a man who supports Planned Parenthood. 

He stressed, "it's very important as men that we also give our support. Planned Parenthood has services for both men and women." 

Women get the brunt of negativity and are forced to live with the stigma after visiting a clinic, according to the man, and he wanted to show that men can support them too. 

All of the people KMOX spoke with outside the facility agreed to speak with us on the condition of anonymity.

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