 "Photo: Christina Murrey")
As abortion rights activists celebrate the 31st anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood is moving forward with construction of a southeast Austin clinic despite organized opposition from abortion opponents.
Construction on the clinic was temporarily halted by a boycott by local builders when Browning Construction left the project under pressure from anti-abortion activists, but work on the site has since resumed.
"When we made the announcement about Browning, we were overwhelmed with calls from contractors wanting to work on the project," said Danielle Tierney, Planned Parenthood spokesperson.
At the construction site, located on East Ben White Blvd., bulldozers moved dirt Wednesday afternoon while men talked near plain, white pickups.
"We made a promise to this community to guarantee access to affordable health care," Tierney said. "Building this clinic is our top priority right now."
Tierney declined to describe the identities of the new contractors or security measures being taken to prevent further disruption of the construction. She said she expects phase one of the facility, a medical clinic, to be complete this fall. An education center and other projects at the site will be finished at a later time.
"[The clinic] is very important to low-income women in Austin," said Katie Forde, a UT Voices for Choices member. "It's the only thing that can make health care a reality for them."
Voices for Choice will hold a rally Thursday on the West Mall to commemorate the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion, Forde said.
The option of legal abortion is being threatened daily, Forde said. She criticized the efforts of Chris Danze, a local concrete contractor who organized the contractor boycott of the Planned Parenthood clinic that will provide abortions, among other services.
Danze sent letters to builders, threatening to create a list of companies working on the clinic and circulate it among churches and other businesses.
Danze said he opposes Planned Parenthood because it encourages "sexual chaos."
"They promote, especially to the youth, indiscriminate, unregulated, unsupervised sexual activity with no parental supervision or input," Danze said.
These policies result in the need for abortions, he said. He said he formed Texas Contractors and Suppliers for Life to further efforts of builders to help end abortion.
Despite criticism, Danze insists his methods are protected under the First Amendment.
"We're peace-loving, pro-life activists," Danze said.
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