An annual anti-abortion campaign began on Wednesday in the Oklahoma City metro area, with activists saying their mission to eliminate legalized abortion is still incomplete, despite Oklahoma's abortion ban.
Mike Hurney, coordinator of the Oklahoma City 40 Days for Life campaign, said activists will be standing on the sidewalks and other public right-of-way areas to pray and spread their anti-abortion message outside the Planned Parenthood centers at 619 NW 23 in Oklahoma City and 1601 S Boulevard, Suite 108, in Edmond for the next several weeks. He said local abortion opponents are continuing their efforts because Planned Parenthood is referring women to abortion providers in other states.
More: Can you face charges after an abortion? What the AG's memo on Oklahoma abortion laws means
Thus, he said legalized abortion has not been entirely eradicated, even with the state law making surgical and medical abortion illegal.
"We won the battle, but we haven't won the war against abortion here," Hurney said. "Our goal is to end abortion completely."
Anamarie Rebori Simmons, communications director of Kansas-based Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said that abortion is illegal in the state of Oklahoma and that includes both medication and surgical abortion. The organization oversees regional Planned Parenthood operations, which includes Oklahoma.
"Since a total abortion ban was signed into law, Planned Parenthood Great Plains has not provided any abortion services in Oklahoma," she said. "We have said that many times previously and that has not changed while abortion remains illegal."
Simmons said the organization continues to help patients access care in states where abortion is legal. Earlier this year, the agency's leaders discussed the expansion of its Patient Navigation Program designed to help women in states where abortion is illegal connect to abortion providers in states where the procedure is not unlawful.
"Every person deserves to be able to access basic health care without the opinion or judgement of others," Simmons said. "The safety of our patients and staff is always top priority and we continue to ensure they have a space, free of judgement, to receive health care. Our doors are open to all."
John Bradley holds a sign Wednesday outside Planned Parenthood on NW 23 in Oklahoma City as part of the Christian faith-based 40 Days for Life campaign against abortion.
In the aftermath of the the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturn of Roe v. Wade in June, the , including one that bans all abortions except to save the life of a pregnant person. There is no exception for abortions in the case of pregnancies from rape or incest.