invited anyone here, if you have not or if you are curious. It is a wonderful
facility. It is one of their busiest. All of eastern Pennsylvania, except
Philadelphia and they are providing all types of healthcare. She stated that
she just wanted to come up and provide her support and thanked Council
for considering this and to remind everyone that abortion is healthcare.
Ms. Margaret Housler, 1406 Hamilton Street, expressed her sincere thanks
to Council that is looking at ordinances that seek to protect the rights of
women to make choices for themselves and to seek reproductive care they
feel appropriate for themselves. She takes particular note of this ordinance
which is really critical. We need to create a buffer zone given the particular
location of our clinic in Allentown and for that reason, she fully supports this
proposed ordinance. She has witnessed the harassed that occurs and the
bullying that occurs outside of that clinic. While she respectfully agrees that
every person is entitled to their personal believes, no one in the city has the
right to harass and to bully others. For this reason, she supports the
creation of this buffer zone and feels it is really necessary.
Ms. Maggie Sweet, 3830 Macintosh, Orefield, stated that she has also
experienced an abortion. On December 13, 1985, she had an abortion.
Not only did her daughter died, but her soul died as well. She shared her
story with a young girl 20 years ago looking to having an abortion. Trying to
spare her from a lifetime of pain. She decided to choose life and from that
day on for 20 years, she has been a peaceful Spanish advocate here at
Planned Parenthood. The before and aftercare they provide will never
make the media, but will remain in our hearts, the families hearts, and even
on several occasions the hearts of previous Planned Parenthood workers
because in that time for years, she has utilized her first amendment right
peacefully to Counsel on the same taxpaying public sidewalk that local
workers shop, ride, and the entire public use. She has on several
occasions even shook hands with some of the escorts. They have on many
occasions paid salaries to previous Planned Parenthood workers,
provided them with jobs, some of the workers have joined them, and there
have been baby showers that they have had. They have had personal
birthday parties for some of your previous Planned Parenthood workers.
They have even eaten with them and invited them over for Thanksgiving.
Last month, they provided rent for several of the women who chose life.
They have had four baby showers in one day. Each one of these women
are supplied with cribs, strollers, walkers, and over the years baby
supplies. They are constantly invited to these children's birthdays as they
have become their family. She stated that tomorrow, she will spending
time with this young girl who just chose life try to find a job after we just paid
her rent. She has experienced profound miracles. For example, she
befriended a friend who is also ready to speak and give her testimony.
She started bleeding after she left Planned Parenthood several years ago.
For two months she bled because she still had tissue. Her name is Winnie
and she is not afraid to say that because she told her to make sure she
includes her name. One day while hospitalized, she had her on the