Pro-life groups hold a National Day of Protest against Planned Parenthood Saturday. Hundreds of them are taking place across the country, including in the Hudson Valley. Time Warner Cable News reporter Jackson Wang talked to groups for and against the organization.
MONTICELLO, N.Y. -- They came with a clear message and one goal in mind.
"We’re really appalled at this," said Jane Cuttita, a protester. "We’re hoping Americans will also be appalled at it.”
“We’re here to bring awareness to people that Planned Parenthood is selling baby parts,” said Dorothy McMurrer, another protester.
They're accusing Planned Parenthood of illegal practices.
“We want our tax money not to do that," Cuttita said. "We want it to help women that need help in crisis pregnancies.”
Protests in Poughkeepsie and Monticello were among hundreds of rallies held across the nation Saturday. It comes after videos allegedly showing Planned Parenthood staffers discussing the sale of fetal tissue for profit.
“This is horrific and we are very upset about it," McMurrer said. "And we pray to God that it will end.”
Along with raising awareness, protesters are also calling on the federal government to stop funding Planned Parenthood.
“They should be defunded," McMurrer said. "No question about it.”
Planned Parenthood has denied any wrongdoing. They’ve also said the video was unfairly edited. Supporters of the organization said the whole situation has been blown out of proportion.
“It’s a different world we live in. You can film anything. You can edit anything, you can make it look or seem it’s a horrible thing,” said Laura Reynolds, a Planned Parenthood supporter.
"There's absolutely no foundation to the claim that Planned Parenthood is profiting from fetal tissue programs," said Chelly Hegan, Planned Parenthood Upper Hudson President.
Planned Parenthood supporters said defunding the organization would negatively affect women in the U.S.
“Planned Parenthood in general is a necessary women’s health service. I think we need to fund Planned Parenthood,” Reynolds said.
Planned Parenthood said its focus remains on serving patients. The vice president of the Planned Parenthood Foundation of America released a statement, which reads, in part:
"The people behind these protests have a clear political agenda: they want to ban abortion, and block women and men from accessing basic reproductive health care. Unlike these protesters, compassion is at the center of what we do, and we will continue to provide care, and a safe, welcoming environment for our patients, no matter what.”