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Sometimes people ask me why I’m so vocal about abortion in the US since I’m Canadian.
It’s a fair question.
A few years ago I worked at the university library. I was walking through campus and came across some anti-abortion protesters.
It’s a fair question.
A few years ago I worked at the university library. I was walking through campus and came across some anti-abortion protesters.
Counter protesters were standing in front of them with posterboard and other signs, trying to block the horrific posters they were using. We had some big cardboard slabs at the lab, so I arranged to give them some they could use instead.
It was exam week and I just couldn’t stand the callousness of people displaying triggering images to students who were hurrying to and from the library to take an exam and might be affected by these. So I arranged a buddy walk, someone to escort you past them if you wanted.
I called the cops at one point and they came and said that it was city property and they had a right to protest. But looking at their materials, something felt wrong. Something felt not-protesty.
During one of these encounters with anti-choicers my picture was taken.
During one of these encounters with anti-choicers my picture was taken.
Next thing I know I see my picture on their social media, being promoted as like “oh look at Maria (I don’t remember her name) talking to this young woman about the importance of life” or something. I was actually arguing with her, in fact I tore up her pamphlets.
But the photo didn’t show that.
Facebook and Instagram removed the photo but I wanted it off their website as well. So I started the process and discovered... this was a company.
Like a real company with directors and managers and a lawyer on retainer.
Facebook and Instagram removed the photo but I wanted it off their website as well. So I started the process and discovered... this was a company.
Like a real company with directors and managers and a lawyer on retainer.
I’ve been doing support work for on the ground organizers in social justice campaigns for a while, and having a receptionist and a lawyer is not a thing that “protesters” have. So I dug deeper.
Turns out, this was the Canadian Centre for Bioethical Reform.
Turns out, this was the Canadian Centre for Bioethical Reform.
They “support” student groups with team leaders and marketing materials. This wasn’t a protest, this was PR. And they had a plan. Their lawyers were specifically targeting billboarding laws, things that would allow them to display their stuff on busses. https://www.endthekilling.ca/strategy
I had to find the webmaster to request my picture be taken down. It was this one guy who was also the webmaster for CCBR, and just about every student anti-abortion group in Ontario. He was also one of the supervisors at “protests”, but as an employee, he was paid to be there.
Now CCBR didn’t evolve organically in Canada, oh no. It was founded in 2001 as a branch of CBR, the Center for Bioethical Reform, founded in 1993 in the States by none other than Gregg Cunningham, who is still the executive director to this day.
Who is Gregg Cunningham?
Gregg Cunningham was a republican Pennsylvania lawmaker who created the Thornburgh case which went to the Supreme Court, and was amended as the Casey decision. As in Casey v. Planned Parenthood. https://twitter.com/erynnbrook/status/1012068749497663489?s=21
Gregg Cunningham was a republican Pennsylvania lawmaker who created the Thornburgh case which went to the Supreme Court, and was amended as the Casey decision. As in Casey v. Planned Parenthood. https://twitter.com/erynnbrook/status/1012068749497663489?s=21
Casey v. Planned Parenthood is a landmark case, because the Supreme Court upheld Roe v Wade but said that states may regulate abortion to protect the health of the mother AND the life of the fetus, and may outlaw abortions of viable fetuses.
Casey opened the gates for states.
Casey opened the gates for states.
Apologies, CBR was founded as privately funded, not for profit company in 1990. You can read Gregg’s own words on it here:
https://lifelegaldefensefoundation.org/1999/10/01/ask-attorney-interview-gregg-cunningham/
https://lifelegaldefensefoundation.org/1999/10/01/ask-attorney-interview-gregg-cunningham/
Where else has Gregg Cunningham popped up?
Europe. Reproductive justice advocates in Ireland may be especially familiar with his tactics. https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/europes-abortion-fight/abortion-europe-how-one-american-exports-war-strategy-n559626
Europe. Reproductive justice advocates in Ireland may be especially familiar with his tactics. https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/europes-abortion-fight/abortion-europe-how-one-american-exports-war-strategy-n559626
Canadians have heard a lot about CCBR in the past few years, even if they don’t remember.
Summer jobs grant not going to places that didn’t support reproductive rights and LGBTQ folks? That’s CCBR. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/summer-jobs-abortion-images-ccbr-1.4523255
Summer jobs grant not going to places that didn’t support reproductive rights and LGBTQ folks? That’s CCBR. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/summer-jobs-abortion-images-ccbr-1.4523255
You know those abortion-clinic “sting” videos? That’s Gregg Cunningham.
http://theapologeticsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/CBR-Northland.pdf
http://theapologeticsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/CBR-Northland.pdf
Y'all ever been involved with charity finances before? Tell me what you're seeing here.
Cause I am 100% certain that Gregg, who lives in California and worked as a justice department official in the Reagan administration is not making $66k a year. https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=17275
Cause I am 100% certain that Gregg, who lives in California and worked as a justice department official in the Reagan administration is not making $66k a year. https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=17275
How do places like CBR and CCBR have such low administrative costs if they're employing people around the country to protest abortion? Oh I dunno, maybe it's because they make people fundraise their salaries? https://slowtowrite.com/im-joining-the-staff-at-the-canadian-center-for-bio-ethical-reform/
Anyway, that's just a small sliver of the reason why I'm so vocal. This isn't an America issue. It's a global issue, and the US is a megaphone. Not just that, they have actual companies, representatives and campaigns running in other countries promoting their propaganda.
In terms of who is funding them? Well, that's hard to say. Every one of these orgs is run by a lawyer and there are networks of LLCs involved just to make the money difficult to trace. I went down a rabbit hole once and found that tracking lawyers was easier than tracking money.
But in terms of political campaigns and money, the place you want to keep an eye on is Susan B Anthony List: https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/totals.php?id=D000029292&cycle=2018
They're pretty easy to spot as they are not at all subtle about what they're doing: https://www.sba-list.org/newsroom/press-releases/kavanaugh-confirmation-resounding-victory-for-american-people
And in Canada is CCBR supporting anti-abortion politicians? Well... Let's put it this way, this is RightNow.
https://twitter.com/andraydomise/status/1127368392116187136?s=20
https://twitter.com/andraydomise/status/1127368392116187136?s=20
RightNow supported Sam Oosterhoff.
https://www.flare.com/news/anti-abortion-lobbyists/
Who is this guy: https://twitter.com/CBCToronto/status/1126562295927255041?s=20
https://www.flare.com/news/anti-abortion-lobbyists/
Who is this guy: https://twitter.com/CBCToronto/status/1126562295927255041?s=20
Who just so happened to have a bunch of anti-abortion protesters show up to support his campaign on voting day in the niagara region. Though he said they were not affiliated with his campaign. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/10/23/19-year-old-student-wins-niagara-pc-nomination.html
But they were probably associated with his Church! And there’s an Oosterhoff on a CCBR newsletter from last summer.
https://www.endthekilling.ca/files/newsletters/CCBR_Jun2018.pdf
Watch @andraydomise ‘s timeline for an article on the church soon. Cause I didn’t even get into that piece here.
https://twitter.com/andraydomise/status/1127376463836196865?s=21
https://www.endthekilling.ca/files/newsletters/CCBR_Jun2018.pdf
Watch @andraydomise ‘s timeline for an article on the church soon. Cause I didn’t even get into that piece here.
https://twitter.com/andraydomise/status/1127376463836196865?s=21
Anyway, if you see an abortion protester with one of those big, disturbing, graphic images, that says “CHOICE?” Or “ABORTION IS MURDER”, that’s Gregg Cunningham’s work, and that’s not a protest, that’s advertising.
If anyone wants to look into the links between anti-abortion groups and churches and lawyers and money, I had some success a few years ago following marriages. Seriously.
Yep. That’s them. https://twitter.com/ndarney/status/1127678539166298112?s=21
I’m guessing from the reactions to this that it wasn’t common knowledge. I also thought I was in an another universe when I found this. So that’s a normal thing to feel!
Guess they should’ve just taken down my picture when I asked nicely, instead of pointing me to their lawyer.
Guess they should’ve just taken down my picture when I asked nicely, instead of pointing me to their lawyer.
Oh, how handy, here’s a list of the international centers for bioethical reform. That’s nice.
https://www.stopabortion.ie/cbr-international-affiliates
https://www.stopabortion.ie/cbr-international-affiliates
Hey Canada, we have one organization that’s been fighting against CCBR, and they could use some help! https://twitter.com/julieslalonde/status/1127925743525277696?s=21
If I were a betting gal, I’d say it’s part of the plan to install anti-abortion conservatives into powerful positions within the various ministries of education across Canada. https://twitter.com/pressprogress/status/1128021764846575617?s=21
Oh would you look at that, CCBR bragged about having staffers on the ground in Red Deer in their December newsletter. (Page 2 last paragraph)
https://www.endthekilling.ca/files/newsletters/CCBR_Dec2018_revised.pdf
https://www.endthekilling.ca/files/newsletters/CCBR_Dec2018_revised.pdf
Also, don’t be thinking this is all evangelicals. Gregg Cunningham is... well vague about his religious affiliations. But he’s also old buds with Fr. Frank Pavone! The catholic priest so anti-abortion that the Catholic Church gave him a time out! https://www.ncronline.org/news/bishop-tries-rein-high-profile-pro-life-priest
You know who Fr. Frank is. Remember Covington Catholic? Remember the priest in the MAGA hat? That’s him.
