Woman Who Underwent Coerced Abortion
Silenced At New Jersey Senate Hearing
Told She Couldn't Talk About Planned Parenthood Experience

Springfield, IL (Nov. 24, 2010) -- A woman testifying at a New Jersey Senate hearing about undergoing a coerced abortion was stopped from speaking after the hearing chair told her that her that she couldn't talk about her experience with Planned Parenthood.

Darlene Dunn was testifying at a budget hearing about a bill to provide government funds to Planned Parenthood and other family planning centers. As she began her testimony, she was interrupted by Sen. Paul Sarlo, who was chairing the hearing. He told Dunn that "this is not a bill about Planned Parenthood . ... this is a bill about family planning and health care."

Dunn responded by saying, "When [I] walk into a place for family planning and ... and I am scared to death in a crisis pregnancy and I am told you that have one option, that is not family planning. That is coerced abortion."

Two other senators present attempted to defend Dunn's right to speak by saying the issue of abortion was relevant to whether or not Planned Parenthood received funds from the state.

Listen to an audio of the exchange and read a letter from Darlene Dunn about the experience here.