Phillip Leahy is a pro-life activist who speaks regularly to women and men entering the Planned Parenthood abortion clinic on San Mateo and attempts to offer them the support and assistance they need in order to choose life for their children. Leahy was attacked by a bat-wielding pro-choice assailant on Tuesday and briefly hospitalized. Leahy is now home recovering from the attack but no arrests have yet been made.
Martha Edmonds, Director of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood of New Mexico, said that she did not witness the attack on the long-time pro-life activist but asserted that her organization does not condone violence of this type.
“I don’t know if the police have identified the person who [attacked Leahy],” said Edmonds. “It might have been someone that was with a patient [of Planned Parenthood]. I don’t know for sure. If we can help [with identifying the assailant], we certainly will.”
Edmonds knew Leahy by name and was familiar with the activities of Leahy and other pro-life activists who minister outside the Planned Parenthood abortion clinic.
“I haven’t seen Phillip since out there since [the attack] so I don’t know how badly injured he was. They took him in an ambulance. He’s kind of an old guy. He’s out there faithfully and it kind of stunned me that someone would go after him. He’s out there without incident day upon day upon day.”
Edmonds strongly supported the right of pro-life activists to engage in lawful, peaceful activities: “They have a right to be out there. They have a first amendment right to be out there and they deserve to be left alone.”
Edmonds said that there have been incidents in the past of attempted arson at this Planned Parenthood location but stated that the pro-life activists have never been involved with incidents of law-breaking. “When we have had [legal] issues, they are not part of that.”
“We certainly don’t condone violence. And I don’t believe they do either,” said Edmonds. “The protesters, as far as I know, don’t condone any violence against us either. They’re peaceful, they’re religious, they’re praying,” said Edmonds “They want to talk to the patients, and they upset the patients, but they don’t hurt anyone. We certainly would not want anyone to harm them or hurt [the pro-life activists].”
