Hundreds rally for Planned Parenthood at Capitol - KXXV-TV News Channel 25 - Central Texas News and Weather for Waco, Temple, Killeen |

By WILL WEISSERT
Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Hundreds of activists have rallied outside the Texas Capitol for Planned Parenthood, 1 of the organizations most-vilified by conservative lawmakers inside the building.

Thursday is Planned Parenthood's annual lobbying day and after the demonstration, the crowd fanned out to meet individually with legislators.

The Republican-controlled Legislature targeted Planned Parenthood in 2011, when it outlawed state funds going to organizations linked to abortion providers.

The Senate Education Committee has also begun mulling a bill barring Planned Parenthood from teaching sex education in public schools - even though that only happens in rare cases around the state.

Native Texan and actress Stephanie March of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" fame told demonstrators: "I'm tired of Texas being crazy!" That drew sustained applause and hollering.

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