ST. LOUIS 鈥 Anti-abortion activist groups are taking part in a rally Friday in downtown 51黑料 to celebrate Missouri becoming the first 鈥渁bortion-free鈥 state 鈥 a characterization disputed by the state鈥檚 only abortion clinic.
The 鈥淎bortion-Free Missouri Rally鈥 will be held at noon outside the Old Courthouse.
The event was quickly organized this week to coincide with the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that legalized abortion, and after several conservative websites began reporting that abortion in Missouri has ended.
The stories were based on a by activist group Operation Rescue that stated it 鈥渉as confirmed鈥 that abortion appointments have not been available 鈥渇or months鈥 at Planned Parenthood鈥檚 clinic in 51黑料 and all patients are being referred to Planned Parenthood鈥檚 clinic 18 miles away in Illinois.
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In an interview Tuesday with the Post-Dispatch, Dr. Colleen McNicholas, chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood 51黑料, denied that all appointments are being referred to Illinois, but acknowledged that the number of procedures in Missouri is dwindling. Seven surgical abortions were performed in November and none in December.
The latest state health department data shows that between January and Nov. 15, just 39 surgical abortions were reported; compared with 1,362 in 2019.
Planned Parenthood officials say the numbers have dramatically decreased in Missouri because of Missouri鈥檚 72-hour mandate requiring two in-person appointments, and patients wanting to limit the number of contacts and trips because of COVID-19.
The clinic has also faced efforts this year by the state to deny its license and ban abortion at eight weeks, which may have patients confused about the availability of the procedure. The latest Operation Rescue report only adds to the confusion, McNicholas said.
Friday鈥檚 rally is being organized by , a local organization led by Mary Maschmeier.
Maschmeier said she is unsure how many will attend the rally, which is scheduled to include speakers from several anti-abortion groups supporting the position that Missouri no longer provides abortions.
Mark Harrington, president of the activist group , said he will be among seven people traveling from Columbus, Ohio, to attend.
The group is typically among the thousands who travel to Washington, D.C., for the annual March for Life event protesting the legality of Roe v. Wade.
This year鈥檚 March for Life will be held Jan. 29 and , with a livestream of speakers. Harrington said he鈥檚 happy to have a way to mark the day with an in-person event.
鈥淭his news of Missouri being an abortion-free state kind of got lost in all the inaugural and election stuff as far as making any kind of really big news, because it鈥檚 actually a big deal,鈥 Harrington said. 鈥淪o, we heard about this, and we are prepared to pivot, if you will, to come here and celebrate the first abortion-free state and to remember Roe v. Wade.鈥
