Pro-life activists shared their very clear point of view in dozens of cities across the country on Tuesday. They believe the recent revelations about possible illegal behavior by Planned Parenthood could be the shockwave needed to jolt policymakers into cutting off the organization from taxpayer funding.

As Planned Parenthood currently receives $540 million in government support each year, this is no small matter.

On the steps of the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, homemade signs were plentiful at a rally organized by Students for Life of America and its partner organization, Pro-Life Future under the hashtag #WomenBetrayed:

“All Lives Matter.”
“Selling baby parts=bad karma.”
“Yo soy la generacion pro-vida.”
“Planned Parenthood is the #WarOnWomen”

The Washington protesters had some noteworthy company. Presidential hopefuls Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Rand Paul of Kentucky, and retired neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson spoke to the crowd of about 200 protesters that had gathered in the wake of a third shocking undercover video released by the Center for Medical Progress, which showed Planned Parenthood workers apparently negotiating the sale of fetal organs for profit.

“These are videos of senior Planned Parenthood officials laughing, swilling chardonnay and casually, callously, heartlessly bartering and selling body parts of unborn children.”

“I would encourage every American to watch these videos,” said Cruz. “These are videos of senior Planned Parenthood officials laughing, swilling chardonnay and casually, callously, heartlessly bartering and selling body parts of unborn children …. Regardless of your views on the right to life, even if you are a supporter of abortion, I would encourage you watch these videos and just ask a very simple question, ‘Are these my values?’”

Three Republican-led congressional committees and three states have begun investigating Planned Parenthood’s policies on aborted fetuses in wake of the videos. Cruz called on the Department of Justice to begin a federal investigation into criminal action by Planned Parenthood.

“After a time for truth comes a time for action,” Cruz said. “Today the Obama Justice Department is operating as little more than a partisan arm of the Democratic National Committee.”

A woman holds a homemade sign depicting the Planned Parenthood logo dripping with 'blood money' (Credit: Carrie Sheffield)
A woman holds a sign depicting the Planned Parenthood logo dripping with ‘blood money.’ (credit: Carrie Sheffield)

Carson, who became famous for his work as a pediatric neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, spoke of the joy of watching these children grow into adults with families of their own. It led him to believe that an embryo is much more than “a meaningless clump of cells.”

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“There can be no liberty and pursuit of happiness if there is no life,” Carson said on Tuesday, referring to the well-known phrase from the Declaration of Independence.

The crowd at the Capitol was mostly female, with many African-Americans and Latinos saying they’re angry at how Planned Parenthood has targeted minority communities. In light of the body part allegations, some speakers, including Carson, who is black, even referenced slavery in America, how human beings were bought and sold.

“This is a criminal business plan,” said Allison Howard, director of Alliance Relations at the Alliance Defending Freedom. “That’s not the world I want to live in.”

Others spoke out as well. “This is a criminal business plan,” said Allison Howard, director of Alliance Relations at the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian nonprofit group. “That’s not the world I want to live in.”

Planned Parenthood has denied selling fetal tissue for a profit, which is a felony, claiming the payments discussed in the videos were about the legal reimbursement for the costs of procuring human tissue. Federal law bans the commercial sale of fetal tissue, though it can be donated on a not-for-profit basis if the mother consents.

Pro-life activists say these new videos could convince undecided Americans that Planned Parenthood engages in unethical tactics that warrant a ban on public funding. Their efforts have strong support in the House, though they face an uphill climb over a 60-vote threshold in the Senate. Paul said he hopes to move a bill before the August Senate recess that would strip away funding. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has been supportive of the bill so far and has reportedly taken procedural steps for putting the bill on the floor with short notice.

Paul said that Democrat rival presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton should refund any donations she has received from Planned Parenthood.

“Hillary Clinton’s hands are stained by accepting this money,” Paul said. “She needs to immediately return every red cent she has received from Planned Parenthood employees.”