Group protests Planned Parenthood meeting at Chinn library

By Amanda Stewart

Published: July 15, 2008

A group of about half a dozen pickets gathered in front of Chinn Park Regional Library on Tuesday evening to protest a Planned Parenthood meeting.

The protesters, many of whom held purple signs that said "Planned Parenthood Steals Souls," were protesting a Planned Parenthood volunteer training session being held inside

the library's community room.

"We're here to let people know that Planned Parenthood is not liked in the community," said Marie Hahnenberg, a researcher with American Life League, the group that organized the protest.

Planned Parenthood volunteers organizing the

training session said they had no comment on the protest.

Hahnenberg said the protesters were concerned that Planned Parenthood would be targeting young people in the training session.

According to a Web site for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, Tuesday's event was a training session for people interested in volunteering for Planned Parenthood events such as the Occoquan Riverfest, farmers' market and summer concerts.

The training session taught volunteers about the group's missions and services, its campaign for affordable birth control and specific volunteer opportunities, the Web site stated.

Hahnenberg said she and the other protesters were also concerned about Planned Parenthood meeting at the library.

"They should not be at a public library," she said.

According to the Prince William Public Library system's policy on public use of library community rooms, the library does not discriminate against individuals or groups for any reason, including "the political, religious, or social aims expressed by the individual or group, or by any group's members."

Any government agency or non-profit group can apply to use the meeting rooms, as long as the events are open to the public and no fundraising occurs, the policy states.

Staff writer Amanda Stewart can be reached at 703-878-8014.