We won’t back down to bullies or intimidation.
A year ago, in July of 2018, threats to the Fort Wayne Health Center patients, landlord, health care providers, and even their families and children became rampant. Anti-reproductive rights zealots so terrorized and threatened our patients and our staff that the clinic had to be closed.
Local news tried to spin the closing as the result of low patient numbers, saying that the people of Fort Wayne had no use for Planned Parenthood. They couldn’t have been more wrong: following the closing, dozens of protestors rallied in Fort Wayne in favor of reproductive rights – many carrying signs that read “I stand with Planned Parenthood.” The Fort Wayne community spoke out in favor of Planned Parenthood’s work, and against the harassment tactics used by our most extreme opponents.
Though we could not avoid the closing, as the safety and well-being of our patients, staff, and community must come first, Planned Parenthood worked to turn this setback into an opportunity.
After temporarily closing, Planned Parenthood re-opened at a new location – 2930 Lake Avenue –with improved facilities, as well as enhanced design and security. The clinic officially opened its doors to patients Sept. 3, 2019.
Fort Wayne supporters turned out en masse to celebrate the grand opening.
Bonnie Wellman, a nurse practitioner at the new Fort Wayne health center, reports: "We are so happy to be back in Fort Wayne, and we’ve shown the community we are as strong as ever! Our patients are very appreciative we're back and love the new, shiny facility.”
Tags: Indiana, health center, opening