Security Present for Planned Parenthood Exec's Talk in Skokie

SKOKIE, IL - A Skokie police officer was stationed at the Ethical Humanist Society, 7574 N. Lincoln Ave. for the duration of a talk led by Brigid Leahy, director of government relations of Planned Parenthood of Illinois, last weekend.

Leahy was asked to speak before the group well before last month’s mass shooting at a Planned Parenthood in Colorado Springs and before the issue of the government voting to de-fund the organization reached its peak, the Skokie Review reports.

There were no disruptions during Leahy’s Dec. 6 talk in front of about 60 people. Leahy discussed the shooting, several misconceptions about Planned Parenthood and how the group plans to move forward in spite of difficulties receiving federal funding.

The mass shooting was “a terribly, terribly awful day,” she said. “I wish I could say this was a shock, but it wasn’t. This is not new to us. People have died over the last 22 years.”

She also said abortion and birth control is only a very small part of what Planned Parenthood does, and that federal funding never goes toward those services.

“We actually provide a wide range of women’s and men’s health services,” she said.

“It really is looking at a more global picture of women and their lives...It comes down to making sure that you look at the physical, mental, spiritual, political, economic and social well being of women and girls. Until all of those pieces come together, women cannot truly have reproductive justice.”

Ed McManus, president of the Ethical Humanist Society, said the organization does not shy away from controversial speakers.

“We want speakers to be as relevant and as timely as possible,” he said. “Sometimes, that means a speaker will be controversial.”

more via the Skokie Review