State lawmakers call for investigation into Planned Parenthood

SOUTH FORT MYERS, Fla.- State lawmakers are calling for an investigation into the women’s health organization Planned Parenthood. This comes after undercover videos recently released by The Center for Medical Progress claim to show Planned Parenthood executives in California discussing the sale of aborted fetal body parts to researchers for profit.

State Representative Heather Fitzenhagen tells WINK News that she, along with several other representatives, are sending a letter to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement demanding an investigation into potential criminal activities at Planned Parenthood.

Across Southwest Florida, people are sending a strong message. More than 100 protesters with signs gathered outside Planned Parenthood in south Fort Myers Tuesday. A similar protest was held in Collier County.

“We think is very, very important that we make this known, and we want to put an end to it,” said protester Gabriela Pedroza.

“It’s just so shocking, like I think the whole country’s kind of in shock right now that the videos came out,” said Colleen Barry.

“I have seen the videos and what I know is that they are extraordinarily edited and presented to get the kind of reaction that the protesters are dealing with,” said local Planned Parenthood CEO Barbara Zdravecky.

Zdravecky says no affiliates in Florida practice fetal tissue procurements like those depicted in the videos. In fact, a group showing their support for Planned Parenthood stood outside the clinic holding signs of their own.

“This was an orchestrated opportunity for anti-abortion folks, including those in Congress, to make a statement accusing Planned Parenthood of illegal activity which is simply not true,” said Zdravecky.

Federal law prohibits the commercial sale of fetal tissue, but it does allow the not-for-profit donation of tissue if the women who underwent abortions give their consent.