Hillary Clinton Slams Trump Administration's Assault On Women's Reproductive Health

Hillary Clinton, speaking at the 100th anniversary gala honoring Planned Parenthood on Tuesday, slammed "groups of men" in Washington, DC who are deciding the future of women's health protections. Everyone in the room knew she was talking about the men of the Trump administration and now the anti-women lieutenants like Teresa Manning and Charmaine Yoest, hired to rollback women's health advancements over the last 50 years. 

The event was a star-studded affair. Clinton spoke after actress Meryl Streep (she met with Streep earlier in the day, a spokesman said) and producer Shonda Rhimes. Comedian and actress Tina Fey, comedian and actor Ed Helms and top Clinton donor and producer Harvey Weinstein were also in attendance.

While urging action, Clinton also pushed the attendees to try to understand the people who disagree with Planned Parenthood.

"After decades of arguing back and forth, I think it's safe to say that people of goodwill and good faith will continue to view this issue differently," she said. "So, yes, I believe we can and should respect the deeply held beliefs of our friends, our neighbors, our fellow citizens, even when they differ from our own. That's part of what should make America America."

The event was a star-studded affair. Clinton spoke after actress Meryl Streep, who she met with earlier in  the day, and producer Shonda Rhimes. Comedian and actress Tina Fey, comedian and actor Ed Helms and top Clinton donor and producer Harvey Weinstein were also in attendance.

While urging action, Clinton also pushed the attendees to try to understand the people who disagree with Planned Parenthood.

"After decades of arguing back and forth, I think it's safe to say that people of goodwill and good faith will continue to view this issue differently," the Democratic presidential candidate said. "So, yes, I believe we can and should respect the deeply held beliefs of our friends, our neighbors, our fellow citizens, even when they differ from our own. That's part of what should make America America."

However, Clinton added, activists should "never back down from our commitment to defend the ability of every woman to make these deeply personal decisions for herself."

Hillary closed her speech with a reference to "The Handmaid's Tale," a new Hulu show based on the 1985 book by Margaret Atwood where women's rights in a dystopian future erode.

"The show has prompted important conversation about women's rights and autonomy. In 'The Handmaid's Tale,' women's rights are gradually, slowly stripped away. As one character says, 'We didn't look up from our phones until it was too late,'" Clinton said. "It's not too late for us, but we have to encourage the millions of women and men who support Planned Parenthood's mission to keep fighting."

Spanish Women Face Hate Crime Charges Over Plastic Vagina Protest

Three women who staged a 2014 May Day protest are facing charges of "crimes against religious sentiment" for parading "a plastic vagina a couple of metres high in the style of the Virgin Mary", according to court papers. 

The protest was designed to highlight issues of discrimination against women in the workplace and also restrictions on women's reproductive health as part of the national Workers’ Day march in Seville by the Spanish union the General Workers' Confederation (CGT).

The legal case was already dismissed in Spain's judicial system but the Association of Christian Lawyers appealed the decision and the previous judge's ruling that "not believing in the dogmas of a religion and manifesting it publicly falls under the freedom of expression". The new case claims to contain 'new evidence' that the protest was a deliberate insult to "religious sentiments of Cathlics' with "a mockery of the Easter procession."

Lawyers for the three women contend that there was no intention to offend in the act. One attorney Pastora Filigrana says:

"The objective was to reclaim the right to a choice [to have an abortion] as well as to workers' rights. There were no insults to churchgoers nor was the action directed at the Church. There were no crosses." via

Shonda Rhimes Joins National Board Of Planned Parenthood | 16 States Join Fight Against Ohio Abortion Law

Shonda Rhimes, the creative, business genius behind 'Grey's Anatomy', 'Scandal' and 'How To Get Away With Murder' will now become a voice for one of America's most trusted health care providers: Planned Parenthood. 

Already serving on the PP board out in Los Angeles, and now explaining her response when Planned Parenthood Federation of America president Cecile Richards called, Rhimes says she didn't hesitate. 

"When someone you really admire...calls on you to serve, you say yes," she explains. (It's mutual, says Richards: "I've been so, so impressed by everything she's ever done.") "The fact is that women's health is under fire right now," Rhimes says. "And so to me, it feels like it's important to help fight back."

"I just want to be of service," she continues. "And I'll do that any way I can."

The assault of the Trump Administration on Planned Parenthood is relentless, as is its expanded crusade on women's health clinics worldwide. Attorneys general from 16 states, led by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman (D)  joined a lawsuit challenging an Oho law that would deny state and federal funds to organizations providing abortions -- even though the suit acknowledges that no federal funds go to pay for abortions. Ohio wants to cut off any federal funds to pay for HIV tests, cancer screenings and infant mortality prevention. 

A federal judge blocked the law from taking effect last year, agreeing that it violated the First Amendment rights of two Planned Parenthood chapters in Ohio. The Ohio Department of Health appealed the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit.

The Ohio law focused on health care providers beyond Planned Parenthood. The Columbus Public Health Department warned last year that it would be unable to sign contracts with any of the city’s hospitals because they either provide abortion services, contract with clinics that do so or refer patients to other places where they can find such services, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported.