The U.S. abortion rate is the lowest since 1974, according the Alan Guttmacher Report (AGI,the former research branch of Planned Parenthood): 1,206,000 abortions were reported in 2005, a decrease from 1,222,000 in 2004. (Unfortunately, the government does not collect data on abortions; therefore, truly accurate numbers on abortion are not available.) Abortions have declined by 33% from the peak in 1980 (29 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44) until 2004 (20 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44).
While this is welcome news, disturbing trends are also revealed. Although abortions have decreased among all ethnic groups, they have slowed much less significantly among Hispanic and African American women. According to the report, the abortion rate for Hispanic women fell by 20% between 1994 and 2004, while Caucasian women saw a decrease of 30%. In 2004, there were 10.5 abortions per 1,000 white women ages 15 to 44, compared with 28 per 1,000 Hispanic women of that age—nearly three times as many abortions among the Hispanic population.
The media is baffled and has suggested that low-income women have less access to contraceptives. However, currently 62.5% of abortion clinics are located in the inner city and in neighborhoods predominantly inhabited by the poor and ethnic minorities. Furthermore, most pro-abortion advertising is aimed at the minorities in those areas— an effective tactic since the increase in abortions is among minority women. Texas Right to Life has continually noted the disparity of the abortion numbers among different ethnic groups. Planned Parenthood was founded by Margaret Sanger, a eugenicist who believed in the superiority of the white race, and her founding philosophy has proven effective at drawing low income women into the clinics.
National Right to Life has tracked the over-abundance of advertisements in Spanish newspapers and magazines read mainly by Latinos. Planned Parenthood (PP) also astutely chose a Mexican-American as its chaplain, an obvious attempt to desensitize Hispanics from their traditionally Catholic and Pro-Life views. Planned Parenthood also hosts and markets a web campaign that targets Latina women.
One of Planned Parenthood’s Spanish language flyers claims that they are pro-woman, pro-family, pro-child, and pro-choice. However, their actions show otherwise:
- The abortion industry argues against laws that insure a Latina woman’s right to know about abortion, the effects and risks of abortion, what abortion does to her unborn child, as well as the link between abortion and breast cancer;
- PP vehemently opposed efforts to keep Latino parents informed before their minor daughters are about to undergo an abortion;
- PP lobbied against the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, which affords protection to unborn children against acts of violence;
- Almost three-quarters of PP’s abortion clinics are located in low income minority neighborhoods;
- While PP claims to advocate choice, they even oppose implementing a 24-hour waiting period prior to abortion so that women can take time to reflect on the life-changing medical procedure.
[From National Right to Life]