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November 24, 2009
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Planned Parenthood Clinic Opens in Aurora
(2007-10-03)
(wqub) - The Planned Parenthood clinic in west suburban Aurora that's been the subject of lawsuits and protests opened peacefully this morning. Lynette Kalsnes reports.

Opening day at Planned Parenthood was almost anti-climactic.
Dozens of anti-abortion protestors lined the road across from the clinic, and a sidewalk around the corner.
They chatted quietly. Several brought small children, and sat in lawn chairs.
Aurora resident Wanda Geist (GISTE) was one of the protestors.

GEIST: All they bring to Aurora is death. Instead of the city of light, we are going to be known as the city of death. And it's a sad day for Aurora , and we are in mourning.

Protestors had charged that Planned Parenthood lied on its permit applications to prevent people from knowing about the clinic beforehand.
But a legal review found no criminal activity, and the city issued a temporary occupancy permit yesterday.

Steve Trombley (TROM-blee), who heads Planned Parenthood in the Chicago area, says he's confident the clinic will remain open.

TROMBLEY: There's always going to be noise surrounding the facility and surrounding the services we do. At the end of the day, we open our doors, the patients come through, and they get the health care that they need. And that's what's most important.

But protestors say the fight isn't over.
Eric Scheidler is the spokesman for the Pro-Life Action League.

SCHEIDLER: Well, i'm gratified that we were able to keep Planned Parenthood closed for two weeks. And I'm sure that over those two weeks, many unborn babies were saved, and their mothers were saved the grief of abortion. The group is vowing to hold more prayer vigils and continue its fight in court.
The opponents filed an appeal with the Zoning Board of Appeals today, saying Planned Parenthood needed a special use permit.
But the city attorney says no such permit was needed.
I'm Lynette Kalsnes, Chicago Public Radio.

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