I've debated whether or not to do this, but the story behind it pisses me off so much that I feel that I'm doing the right thing. You'll see where I'm going with this in a little bit. But first some background...
Planned Parenthood of Austin was in the process of constructing a clinic in Austin. Those plans have run into problems because
the main contractor on the project has pulled out after harassment from anti-abortion activists. here are some details from an article in the Austin American Statesman:
Austin American Statesman - Construction on Planned Parenthood's South Austin clinic took a hard hit this week when the project's general contractor walked away because of intense pressure from abortion opponents.
Planned Parenthood officials said Browning Construction -- a San Antonio company that is one of the state's largest building contractors -- broke its contract to oversee construction of the 9,931-square-foot clinic.
"They were afraid their business could not survive this project," said Glenda Parks, CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Texas Capital Region.
In a written statement, company President James Browning said, "We have requested that the construction contract be terminated because we are unable to secure and retain adequate subcontractors and suppliers to complete the project in a timely manner, due to events beyond our control."
Planned Parenthood has not decided whether to take legal action and is exploring its options. ...
...Parks said two other contractors have volunteered to spearhead the construction but wouldn't give their names. Though work on the building has slowed, she said it has not stopped.
...Browning's departure comes after hundreds and possibly thousands of people across the country participated in an Austin-led campaign to cripple the project.
In September, Chris Danze -- president of Maldonado & Danze, a concrete construction contractor -- organized a boycott.
"Planned Parenthood is an organization with a health care wrapper, but it is a social movement at its core," he said. It's "a social movement that promotes sexual chaos, especially among our youth. Out of this sexual chaos comes the violence of abortion. That is the heart and soul of this movement."
The 48-year-old Austin man, who said he personally assists women who have troubled pregnancies, persuaded concrete suppliers to boycott the project. He kept a list of companies that worked on the facility, contacted churches and asked pro-life supporters to call the contractors.
Word got out.
News outlets across the country picked up the story, including the Christian Broadcasting Network, Parks said. Hundreds of people called companies working on the clinic.
One contractor received 1,200 calls to his business line, Parks said. Another received several hundred at his home.
Parks said the contractors felt harassed and threatened. Danze said he has told callers to be polite and respectful.
"The calls involved two elements," Danze said. "The first is that it's wrong to build an abortion chamber. The second is that it's bad for future business."
Former Austin Mayor Bruce Todd called that "economic blackmail."
"It's about tyranny," he said. "It's about harassment."
More information can be obtained from a
website offering a "Pro-life" perspective:
The conservative, pro-family residents of Austin, Texas, are shouting "Not in my back yard" to Planned Parenthood, and builders as far away as San Antonio are listening.
As News 8 Austin first reported, the general contractor overseeing the construction of an abortion clinic has pulled out amid a burgeoning boycott by subcontractors.
Browning Construction confirmed for WorldNetDaily it has abandoned Planned Parenthood's $6.2 million "Choice Project."
WorldNetDaily reported local concrete contractor Chris Danze organized a boycott of the project shortly afterwards seeking to "stop it, slow it down or make it more expensive."
"Planned Parenthood and its agenda is bad for our community, bad for women and bad for children," Danze told WorldNetDaily, calling Browning's decision to pull out "very good news."
Danze, chairman of the Austin Area Pro-Life Concrete Contractors and Suppliers Association, sent a letter to more than 750 chief executives of construction-related companies in Central Texas and San Antonio, asking them not to supply materials or work on the clinic. The letter was signed by 88 local business owners, physicians, friends and family members.
In the past six weeks, the boycott has gained momentum with the lumber supplier, roofing supplier and air conditioning contractor climbing on board, according to boycott supporters.
Danze says as many as 70 contractors officially registered their participation and several others have unofficially pledged cooperation but do not want to be named.
"We are up against monumental odds here, but the funny thing is that we seem to be winning this thing," Mark Lynn Proeger, pastor at nearby University of Texas, told WorldNetDaily. "I think things are screeching to a halt."
..."The location of the clinic will undoubtedly invite some people of lower income and those with less educational opportunities to find a 'quick solution' to their struggle. This also is unfortunate." Bishop Gregory Aymond, leader of the Catholic Diocese of Austin told the Austin American-Statesman.
The Brazos Valley Coalition for Life has held prayer vigils and protests near the construction site. The coalition is locked in a battle with Planned Parenthood over another clinic in its back yard in Bryan, Texas.
David Bereit, an A&M graduate who gave up his pharmaceutical sales job to become the coalition's executive director at two-thirds the salary, aims to wear out the clinic's resolve by eroding its client base and financial support.
"Can there be a resolution that allows abortions to continue? From our perspective, absolutely not because the stakes are too high," Bereit told the Houston Chronicle.
..."Everything we're doing is legal, ethical and moral and we'll continue," Danze told WorldNetDaily.
"We have truth and grassroots support and that will outweigh the support from washed up politicians," he added.
Okay, so all's fair in love and war. But it seems to me that the folks behind this boycott/harassment campaign should be fair targets as well. If they think that it is their right to threaten the economic livelihood of people they don't agree with, and call them at their home or place of business, they should be prepared to accept the same treatment. With that in mind, I'm posting below contact information for some of the individuals mentioned in the story as being behind this effort.
Please use this information responsibly. Be polite but firm. Let them know that you don't appreciate their infringement on individual rights. Call often. For businesses, let them know that you will boycott them and encourage others who do business with them to do the same.
Christopher Danze
Home Tel.: (512) 306-1326
Maldonado & Danze Inc
Business Tel.: (512) 837-9677
David Bereit
Home Tel.: (979) 690-3009
Bereit is represented by the
Ambassador's Speakers Bureaufor his role as a motivational speaker. Feel free to call them and let them know how you feel about the fact that they represent a client who has no regard for women's rights.
Toll-Free Phone: (877) 425-4700, ext. 235
Fax: (615) 661-4344
E-mail: gloria.leyda@AmbassadorAgency.com
Mark Lynn Proeger
He lives in Austin. There is a contact number for a church he works at, but I do draw the line somewhere. However, he is in the habit of leading a series of informal meetings ("LQFA ; Lots of Questions, a Few Answers")
discussing faith type issue at a local coffee house. Call them up and let them know how you feel about the fact that they host an event run by someone who opposes women's rights.
Spiderhouse Coffee Shop
Business Tel.: 512 480 9562
Once again,
be nice. Stick to the issues and let them know how you feel. Make it clear to them that as long as they support this type of harassment campaign they can expect to face the same treatment. But don't say anything that you'd be embarassed to say in front of your mother.