COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio blames vandalism at its East Columbus Surgical Center on "extreme individuals" who use "vitriolic, hateful rhetoric."
Someone painted the words "SATAN DEN OF BABYKILLERS GOD SEE ALLLL (sic) Mark 9:14" in red on the front of the center sometime late Sunday or early Monday, the Columbus Dispatch reported.
Red paint was also splashed across the center's doors.
This vile, cowardly, ignorant act of vandalism occurred this morning at the Planned Parenthood clinic on East Main St....
Posted by Lauren Wilson on Monday, March 7, 2016
"As we’ve seen today, the increase in vitriolic, hateful rhetoric is alarming," Nicole Evans, marketing and communications director of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, said in a statement. "These attacks are perpetuated by extreme individuals who continue to invoke lies and smear videos to demonize Planned Parenthood and the 80,000 Ohioans who come to us for basic health care.
“The individuals responsible for this act hope to send a signal that using acts of violence will intimidate health care professionals and the women we serve," Evans' statement continued. "They are wrong. At Planned Parenthood, our doors will stay open --- no matter what. We remain steadfast in our commitment to provide Ohioans with the reproductive health care they need and deserve."
Protesters outside the clinic, where abortions and other services are performed, told the Dispatch on Monday they weren't involved in the vandalism.
The Dispatch reported volunteers escorted patients and couples inside.
Last month, Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed a bill that eliminates roughly $1.3 million in grant funding that Planned Parenthood receives through Ohio's Department of Health. The money, which is mostly federal, supports initiatives for HIV testing, breast and cervical cancer screenings, and prevention of violence against women.
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The legislation prohibits such funds from going to entities that perform or promote abortions, their affiliates and those that contract with an entity that performs abortions.
Opponents say the measure puts politics ahead of people's health care.
