Albuquerque, NM- Abortion Free New Mexico released an undercover video that gives a rare look from inside the nation’s largest late term abortion facility, Southwestern Women’s Options. This video is 5 minutes long and combines raw footage of dialogue with clinic staff and also exclusive interviews with the undercover investigator detailing her unique account of what it was like to go inside of a late term abortion center while pregnant at 37 weeks gestation.
Felicia, the undercover investigator, had been given two genetic tests that were positive for Trisomy 18, also called Edwards’ Syndrome, that causes severe developmental delays due to an extra chromosome 18. This made Felicia the ideal operative for going inside Southwestern Women’s Options to uncover just how far into the pregnancy they would perform a third trimester abortion. During her consultation with Susana Estorga, a clinic employee, Estorga counsels Felicia and prepares her for the 4 day long procedure that begins with an injection into the womb through either the abdominal wall or vaginally. This injection causes a fetal heart attack that stops the baby’s heart over the course of 4-6 grueling hours. She is also told that the procedure will cost $17,000 and was instructed on how to obtain New Mexico Medicaid to have the procedure paid for with state tax dollars.
Two days after what would have been Felicia’s scheduled abortion appointment at 38 weeks of pregnancy she went into labor at home and later delivered a healthy baby boy.
(Felicia and healthy baby Jonah!)
“Southwestern Women’s Options shows no bounds when it comes to performing late term abortions on babies with birth defects, even as late as 37 weeks gestation. In addition this case proves that there are, in fact, a percentage of women who receive false positive testing for birth defects diagnosed in utero. The inconclusive genetic testing and often misdiagnosis offered by genetic counselors are a death sentence for vulnerable babies in the womb. This is an appalling revelation that the community at large must question, especially when these genetic tests are then used to pressure women into obtaining lucrative late term abortions that our latest video reveals can cost, up to $17,000,” stated Tara Shaver of Abortion Free New Mexico.
Shaver has documented extensively how dangerous the late term procedure is. In fact, Abortion Free New Mexico received an anonymous tip that, in February, 2017 a woman died from complications incurred during the several day late term abortion procedure. Abortion Free New Mexico’s attorney then obtained the woman’s autopsy report, through a public records request, which shed light on how the late term abortion contributed to her untimely death.
Abortion Free New Mexico will be releasing a more in-depth interview in the coming days with Felicia about what she experienced inside Southwestern Women’s Options, including a personal message to pregnant women who may be facing a similar fetal anomaly diagnosis.
Albuquerque, NM- Four local pro life priests, Fr. Stephen Imbarrato with the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and Priests for Life, Fr. Leo Padget of Saint Bernadette Parish in Albuquerque, Fr. Rick Zerwas of Sacred Heart Parish in Albuquerque, and Fr. John Carney of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe for 25 years (retired) stood publicly in support of Michelle Garcia Holmes for Mayor of Albuquerque.
“We support Michelle Garcia Holmes for Mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico! Catholics support life here in Albuquerque, the late term abortion capital of the country,” stated Fr. Stephen Imbarrato at a press conference held in Albuquerque today.
Michelle Garcia Holmes has the experience and heart needed to turn Albuquerque around. Our city will not change unless we elect Godly leaders. Please tell your friends and family to check out her website and vote on October 3rd for the first woman Mayor of Albuquerque.
(From Left: Fr. John Carney, Fr. Leo Padget, Fr. Stephen Imbarrato, and Fr. Rick Zerwas)
Watch the full press conference here:
Women March to the Polls for Michelle Garcia Holmes
After the press conference local Albuquerque women joined Michelle Garcia Holmes in a march to the polls to vote together for the 1st Female Mayor of Albuquerque! It is no coincidence that the 1st Female Mayor of Albuquerque can be found on the 1st line of the ballot!
“As a woman, wife and mother who is a resident of Albuquerque, I recognize the need for a mayor who is going to work to turn our city around in the right direction and has the experience to bring the positive change that our city desperately needs. There are many things that plague our city like crime, corruption and late term abortion. In February of this year a 23 yr old woman died during an abortion at 6 months of pregnancy at Southwestern Women’s Options late term abortion center. Late term abortions have no place in our city and put the lives of women at risk who need love and assistance, not abortion. We need a mayor like Michelle Garcia Holmes who truly cares for our city and the people who live here. Michelle Garcia Holmes has made the commitment to work to make our city safe and prosperous for all. We hope that we can count on your support for the first woman mayor of Albuquerque on October 3rd,” stated Tara Shaver, Abortion Free New Mexico.
BREAKING: Red Rose Rescue in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM- On Friday, September 15, 2017in three different cities across the United States, pro-lifers entered abortion centers to talk to women scheduled for abortions and offered an act of non-violent defense of unborn children about to be aborted.
In Albuquerque, New Mexico two faithful sidewalk couselors decided to set aside the arbitrary boundary outside local abortion centers and peacefully entered the University of New Mexico Center for Reproductive Health abortuary and gave a red rose to a client waiting inside. In addition, the client was lovingly offered life affirming alternatives to abortion. The University of New Mexico is a publicly funded institution and is currently under criminal investigation by the New Mexico Attorney General’s office.
Those defending the unborn also entered Northland Family Planning, 3810 17 Mile Rd., Sterling Heights, MI; Alexandria Women’s Health Clinic, 101 S Whiting St. #215, Alexandria, Virginia. Once inside, small teams of pro-lifers quietly approached mothers seated in the waiting rooms and offered them red roses as a symbol of life. Attached to each rose was a card which stated on one side, “You were made to love and to be loved… your goodness is greater than the difficulties of your situation. Circumstances in life change. A new life, however tiny, brings the promise of unrepeatable joy.” and a national hotline phone number directing to them to local pregnancy help centers on the other.
The Red Rose Rescue is modeled after the pro-life rescue activity of well-known Canadian activist Mary Wagner, who has repeatedly entered Toronto abortion centers and offered red roses to mothers waiting to have their children aborted.
Monica Migliorino Miller, director of Citizens for a Pro-Life Society who participated in the rescue at the Michigan clinic, explains:
“The Red Rose Rescue is an act of charity for women who feel for whatever reason they must have their innocent unborn children killed. Those who took part were willing to embrace risks for these women and their babies. We will go into the very places where the unborn are put to death and extend help to the moms. Should this help be refused—we will not leave the abortion centers but remain in solidarity with the helpless victims oppressed by the injustice of abortion. Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta said that her work was “to go into the dark holes of the poor.” The Red Rose Rescue is an action of going into the dark holes of the poor—namely abortion centers where the innocent are rejected—and in these dark holes we seek to bring hope, true peace and the presence of God.”
According to LifeSiteNews, “10 pro-life activists, including two Catholic priests, were arrested this morning at a Michigan and a Virginia abortion facility while attempting to persuade women not to abort their unborn children.”
No rescuers were arrested in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
“As pro-life missionaries we have been called to defend life and to rescue those being led to the slaughter. Peaceful direct action to save the lives of these innocent babies and persuading their mothers to choose life is such a beautiful sacrifice. We were blessed to stand in solidarity with the babies, Mary Wagner and fellow Red Rose Rescuers today in Albuquerque, New Mexico,” stated Tara Shaver, Abortion Free New Mexico.
Read the reports from LifeSiteNews and watch video’s from the Red Rose Rescues:
Albuquerque, NM- Early voting starts today, September 13, 2017 in Albuquerque. With this election, the voters of Albuquerque have the opportunity to literally change the DIRECTION and REPUTATION of this city with a NEW mayor!
Albuquerque is…
The Late Term Abortion Capital of America.
#1 in the Nation for Auto Theft
#5 in the Nation for Violent Crime
As a retired 20 year veteran of the Albuquerque Police Department, Michelle Garcia Holmes has the experience to take on Albuquerque’s crime epidemic. In addition, during her time serving as the Chief of Staff for the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office she created a task force to take on government corruption and sex trafficking.
Here is real change that Michelle’s leadership has ALREADY brought to New Mexico:
Helping get the FIRST anti-human trafficking law through state legislature.
Starting the FIRST anti-Methamphetamine education campaign across New Mexico.
Organizing the FIRST Prescription Drug Summit in New Mexico.
Being the FIRST city in NM to get an indictment on DNA of an unknown rapist. Because of that indictment, that rapist is serving a 276-year sentence.
“Michelle Garcia Holmes is not of the political class which has consistently ignored the unrestricted abortion cartel in Albuquerque and New Mexico. I believe she is the real change we need! The 1st Female Mayor of Albuquerque can be found on the 1st line of the election ballot!” Fr. Stephen Imbarrato: The Protest Priest
Michelle Garcia Holmes has also lead the charge for the Pro-Life Community in Albuquerque. Her pro-life statement is featured prominently on her website under the ABOUT tab.
Please share with friends and family in Albuquerque and let’s help Michelle Garcia Holmes become the first pro-life woman mayor of Albuquerque.
Volunteers needed to call voters from 6-8pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night this week. Location: 1815 4th St. NW
-If you don’t live in Albuquerque PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR CITY
-Contact friends and family and tell them to vote for Michelle
-Make phone calls to registered voters
-Go door to door and distribute fliers
-Hold signs/banners at busy intersections
-Pass out fliers/hold signs at the polls on October 3rd
Contact Tara for more information shavermissions@gmail.com
Vote for Michelle Garcia Holmes for mayor and let’s turn this city around!
MICHELLE GARCIA HOLMES OFFICIAL PRO-LIFE STATEMENT:
I’m pro-life because life is precious, children are precious. Mothers need support and education from the moment a baby is conceived. Each and every baby should be wanted, these are children, they are someone’s son, someone’s daughter. I have a strong faith and belief system that tells me we cannot separate our faith and ideological beliefs on this issue. My faith guides me to have mercy, compassion, forgiveness, and to care for the most vulnerable. Life is precious.
We must be more united within the pro-life movement, within our communities, within our churches, and within government. We need to make a positive difference in the lives of all of the children, mothers and fathers. I am saddened and troubled that our city of Albuquerque has the reputation of being the “abortion capital of the southwest” and “the late term abortion capital of the United States.”
43 states across our country have enacted bans on late term abortion and well over 70% of Americans across the country believe late term abortion should be banned. New Mexico is the least restrictive abortion state in the country and because of that people come from all over the world, especially surrounding states to obtain late term abortions, even up to the day of birth.
As Mayor, I will provide oversight over abortion businesses within the city of Albuquerque in order to ensure that these clinics meet the maximum acceptable business and health standards. I will also call upon our state leaders to stand strong for New Mexico families like the other 43 states and call for a ban on late term abortion for our state.
Early this year, I stood up and spoke out at a press conference about a United States Congressional Inquiry involving violations of laws in our city. The New Mexico Attorney General’s Office received the 300-page United States Congressional inquiry last year from Washington D.C. reporting violations of laws in our community involving the research of fetal tissue and organs. I expressed that New Mexico Attorney General Balderas needed to act quickly on the cases presented to him that came out of that inquiry, as they all faced a diminishing time limit for prosecution of these specific violations.
The inquiry provided overwhelming evidence for the Attorney General Balderas to conduct a full investigation. Since receipt of the investigation, the opportunity for over 80 possible cases to be prosecuted has expired. Women and children in our city lost their opportunity for justice. So far, the Attorney General Balderas has not moved forward, effectively allowing these cases to go unprosecuted and eliminated as if they never existed.
This congressional evidence affects hundreds of our New Mexico families. I will continue to speak up for injustice in our city. We should always stay vigilant to ensure families, women and children in our community are protected and justice is served.
-Michelle Garcia Holmes
“Michelle Garcia Holmes is not of the political class which has consistently ignored the unrestricted abortion cartel in Albuquerque and New Mexico. I believe she is the real change we need! The 1st Female Mayor of Albuquerque can be found on the 1st line of the election ballot!” Fr. Stephen Imbarrato: The Protest Priest
Born and raised in Albuquerque
8 Years Chief of Staff in NM Attorney General’s Office
20 Years Experience Albuquerque Police Department
Non Politician; independent and unencumbered
Pro-life, pro-family, pro-business, anti-crime
October 3rd vote for Michelle Garcia Holmes for mayor and let’s turn this city around! Michelle4mayor.org
How you can help:
-Contact friends and family and tell them to vote for Michelle
-Make phone calls to registered voters
-Go door to door and distribute fliers
-Hold signs/banners at busy intersections
-Pass out fliers/hold signs at the polls on October 3rd
Please call or text Grace for more information and let her know how you want to help: justice.grace@yahoo.com
Report by Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Vice President of Operation Rescue
Albuquerque, NM – Rep. Steve Pearce has sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions seeking an investigation and prosecution of the University of New Mexico and its partner, Southwestern Women’s Options, the largest full-term abortion facility in the U.S. Pearce’s letter expresses urgency for a Federal investigation for the following reasons:
The New Mexico Attorney General’s office has been too slow to act on two criminal referrals made by the House Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives, allowing many of the charges to expire under the statute of limitations. (Referral 1, Referral 2)
The statute of limitations is quickly approaching the rest of the allegations against UNM and Southwestern Women’s Options.
There has been one documented death of an abortion patient at Southwestern Women’s Options this year, raising concerns that the dangers at SWO must be immediately addressed.
Pearce reminded Attorney General Sessions that women travel to New Mexico from all over the country to receive abortions. This thriving abortion business, which specializes in abortions throughout all nine months of pregnancy, profits from interstate commerce, making the issue a federal concern.
Pearce was especially troubled about the February 4, 2017, death of Keisha Atkins from a botched late-term abortion she received at Southwestern Women’s Options.
“On February 4, 2017, a woman tragically died at SWWO facilities after receiving a late-term abortion. This raises more questions about the reckless behavior of the SWWO. In 2016 alone, the National Abortion Federation reportedly referred more than 200 Texas patients to New Mexico for abortion related procedures. With hundreds of women flocking to New Mexico to receive these dangerous procedures, something must be done” Pearce wrote.
Tara Shaver of Abortion Free New Mexico uncovered the death of Keisha Atkins, 23, and obtained her UNM autopsy report that wrongly indicated Atkins’ pregnancy – not her abortion – caused her death. However, an analysis of the autopsy report clearly shows that determination was a cover-up of the truth that Atkins died a painful, panic-filled death as the result of complications that could only have resulted from the late-term abortion.
On April 19, 2017, Rep. Pearce, along with several leaders from state and national pro-life organizations, including Operation Rescue, attended a press conference with Rep. Marsha Blackburn, Chairman of the House Select Panel, that called for New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas to act immediately on the Select Panel’s criminal referrals that allege UNM and Southwestern Women’s Options were willing partners in the sale of aborted baby remains in violation of state and federal laws.
Later that same day, Balderas’ office acknowledged during a meeting with leaders of Operation Rescue, Abortion Free New Mexico, and several other pro-life groups that the referrals were under active investigation, yet there has been little progress.
On June 26, 2017, Operation Rescue president Troy Newman sent a letter to Balderas urging him to investigate criminal allegations against UNM and SWO with all urgency, but no response to that letter was ever received.
“The delay by Balderas’ office seems intentional to protect UNM and SWO from any consequences for their actions, whether it be the illegal sale of aborted baby body parts or their participation and cover-up of death of Keisha Atkins,” said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue. “As New Mexico’s ‘Top Cop,’ Balderas is committing a shocking betrayal of the citizens of New Mexico by allowing his ideological cronies in the abortion business to commit crimes without consequence. U.S. Attorney General Sessions must do better than Balderas if the rule of law and the lives of women like Keisha Atkins are to mean anything.
Please contact the office of U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and demand that the Department of Justice conduct an immediate criminal investigation of UNM and the Southwestern Women’s Options abortion business.
Report by Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Vice President of Operation Rescue
Albuquerque, NM – Tara Shaver opened the mysterious letter that arrived in the mail. She could hardly believe what she was reading.
It was an anonymous tip that informed her a woman named Keisha Atkins had died from a late-term abortion on February 4, 2017.
Shaver and her husband, Bud, who lead Abortion Free New Mexico, have spent years laboring in the pro-life trenches in Albuquerque exposing the largest late-term abortion facility in the United States, Southwestern Women’s Options, and its connections to the publicly-funded University of New Mexico.
Due to their experience and training, once serving as interns for Operation Rescue, they immediately jumped into action. They filed a public records request for Atkins’ autopsy and established a valuable line of communications with her family. They discovered that Atkins’ abortion had been done at Southwestern Women’s Options, which made perfect sense since it alone in New Mexico specializes in late-term abortions throughout all nine months of pregnancy.
They consulted with Operation Rescue over the meaning of the autopsy report. Such reports are written in technical medical jargon that is sometimes difficult for anyone without a medical background to decode. However, this correspondent has been reading autopsies concerning abortion-related deaths for decades.
It did not take long to realize that as everything was not as it seemed.
At first glance, the cause and manner of death of this initially healthy 23-year old woman was made it appear that abortion was not even a factor in Atkins’s death. The cause of death was “Pulmonary thromboembolism due to pregnancy.” Her manner of death was natural.
In other words, the autopsy findings that a blood clot formed as a result of her healthy pregnancy and coincidentally at the moment of the abortion, it traveled to her lungs and killed her.
Nothing to see here. Move along.
Once Operation Rescue and Abortion Free New Mexico announced Atkin’s death and released the public autopsy report, the Albuquerque Journal jumped all over it, declaring in their headlines, “Autopsy rules out abortion as cause of death.”
The newspaper cited the opinion of the UNM Office of the Medical Investigator that it was Atkins’ pregnancy that killed her, not the four-day late-term abortion process that Operation Rescue believes was mismanaged by eighty-year old abortionist, Curtis Boyd, and fumbled by UNM hospital where she died.
But as William Shakespeare once said, “Truth will out.”
No matter how much UNM may have tried to obfuscate what happened to Keisha Atkins, the truth seeps through in the pages of the autopsy report in descriptions of her physical condition and the complications she experienced in what must have been an excruciatingly panic-filled and painful death.
“Somehow, these people want us to believe that Atkins developed blood clots as a result of her pregnancy, and through no one’s fault, a blood clot just coincidentally moved to her lung and killed her in the middle of a late-term abortion, which, of course, played no part in her death,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “That’s ludicrous in light of the rest of the autopsy report findings.”
Here is what happened to Keisha Atkins, according to the autopsy report, information provided by her family, and documented information obtained through research by Operation Rescue.
Atkins reported to Southwestern Women’s Options, the nation’s largest late-term abortion facility, on January 31, 2017, to begin a four-day late-term abortion. She was at least six months pregnant, and may have been even farther along according to the tipster that contacted Tara Shaver.
Sometime during the ensuing days, something went wrong and Atkins developed a bacterial infection.
Possible sources for such infections during late-term abortions include:
Complications from the repeated insertion and removal of laminaria cervical dilators;
The fact that the baby in the womb is killed on Day 1 of the procedure and the woman must carry her dead fetus for days before completing the abortion;
Unsanitary conditions and/or practices by abortion facility staff.
On February 3, four days after her abortion process began, Adkins reported to Southwestern Women’s Options for the completion of her abortion. She was showing signs of a dangerous, systemic infection known as sepsis. She also displayed difficulty breathing as she was being prepared for labor. (Read more about how late-term abortions are done.)
Because of the seriousness of her condition, an ambulance was called at 12:04 p.m., but was later cancelled by the clinic, according to a 911 Computer Aided Dispatch transcript obtained by Operation Rescue. At some later point in the day, Atkins was transported by unknown means to UNM Hospital.
Once at the hospital, Atkins was tested for blood clots with negative results. The autopsy report made an effort to explain the rare false-negative test with one statistic that shows false negatives occur in as high as 10.7% of cases. (In other words, no one was at fault.)
Atkins continued to suffer shortness of breath and below base-line oxygen levels despite supplemental oxygen. She also experienced abdominal cramping pain, an elevated heart rate, and reduced ventricular function in her heart.
Additional tests of her placental tissue showed the presence of a bacterial infection. Post-mortem tests of her uterus also showed evidence of the infection.
Why is this significant to understanding the truth behind Atkins’ death?
DIC is a clotting disorder that begins with the rapid formation of small blood clots that block small blood vessels. As the clotting becomes more aggressive, it essentially strips the rest of the blood supply of the clotting factor. This typically results in hemorrhaging of the body cavity and various organs, including the brain.
In addition to bacterial infections, other causes of DIC can include retention of a dead fetus and surgery – both of which were documented in Atkins’ autopsy report.
Supposedly operating under a false-negative test for blood clots, UNM Hospital staff conducted a surgical Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) dismemberment abortion to remove the dead baby.
During the D&E procedure, Atkins suffered a fatal heart attack due to a blood clot in her lungs. Resuscitation efforts were so aggressive that her ribs were broken, yet they proved unsuccessful.
She also received “multiple blood product transfusions,” – a standard treatment for DIC – but to no avail.
Atkins was pronounced dead at 12:10 a.m. on February 4, 2017.
Atkins’ autopsy revealed “acute coagulopathy” as well as hemorrhaging in the brain (left adrenal gland), inside the abdominal cavity, and from the uterus. She also had a massive build-up of serous fluid around her lungs.
How do we know she hemorrhaged from the uterus when that is not specifically mentioned in the report? There was a curious notation in the initial description of Atkins’s body that stood out.
The UNM coroner’s determination that Atkins died from “Pulminary thromboembolism due to pregnancy” is suspect, at best.
These are a few of the symptoms described or strongly inferred in Atkins’ autopsy report thatthe coroner’s opinion does not account for
Uterine hemorrhaging;
Hemorrhaging in the brain;
Blood found in the abdominal cavity;
A large amount of serous fluid found around the lungs, (over 40 ounces);
Bruising of the extremities (another symptom of DIC).
The UNM cause of death also does not account for the multiple transfusions of blood products she was given at the UNM hospital.
These symptoms do not make sense in light of a random blood clot in the lungs. However, they do make sense in light of the clotting and hemorrhaging that exemplifies DIC.
It more likely that during Atkins’ four-day abortion process — during which she retained the body of her dead baby — a bacterial infection turned septic and initiated a fatal cascade of symptoms associated with Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation.
It is Operation Rescue’s opinion, based the facts found in the autopsy report, that the UNM cause of death determination is simply not the truth.
The abortion facilities involved in patient deaths first try to conceal the fact that a patient died. If that doesn’t work, the abortion businesses immediately attempt to deny any culpability for their patient’s death.
What is the easiest way to do that? Whitewash the truth by blaming the woman and/or her pregnancy.
The leftist mainstream media is usually a willing co-conspirator in the cover up, and the response to the Atkins death was no exception.
Once Operation Rescue and Abortion Free New Mexico announced Atkin’s death and released the autopsy report – a public record — the Albuquerque Journal jumped all over it, declaring in their headlines, “Autopsy rules out abortion as cause of death.”
The newspaper cited the opinion of the UNM Office of the Medical Investigator that it was Atkins’ pregnancy that killed her, not the four-day late-term abortion process that Operation Rescue believes was mismanaged her eighty-year old abortionist, Curtis Boyd, and fumbled by UNM hospital where she died.
UNM’s own autopsy report described in detail compelling evidence that it was complications from the abortion process that killed Keisha Atkins – not her pregnancy.
There can be no doubt that if Keisha Atkins had not endured the process of a four-day late-term abortion, she would be alive today.
So why the attempt to obfuscate the true cause of death?
UNM and Southwestern Women’s Options are partners in the trade in aborted baby remains. SWO is the sole supplier of aborted baby tissue and organs to UNM. Both are under criminal investigation by the Attorney General’s office based on a complaint filed by Tara Shaver of Abortion Free New Mexico and criminal referrals issued by the House Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives.
This gives them UNM and SWO motive to nefariously ascribe the death of Keisha Atkins to her pregnancy in order to prevent another abortion-related scandal in the middle of a criminal investigation into their alleged participation in the illegal baby body parts trade.
This may also be why there was no notation of the weight of the dismembered remains of Atkins’ baby in the autopsy report. While the baby’s remains were present during the autopsy, revealing the weight might also reveal the truth about how far along Atkins’ pregnancy really was.
On a side note, some have expressed misplaced concern that the autopsy report was made public, and that its release may have compromised Atkins’ privacy, or more absurdly, her legal rights as a dead person. In reality, there is no legal issue with making a public document available to the public.
In fact, its release is actually a public service. The people have a right to know what is going on at SWO and UNM, especially because they are both recipients of public funds. They have a right to know that not everything is as it appears in the left-wing Albuquerque Journal.
When abortion is involved, concealing the truth that seeps through in these public documents only serves to aid the abortionists and their associates, who are desperately trying to diffuse any controversy around Atkins death.
Tara Shaver’s anonymous tipster apparently had a sense that something was very wrong in the way Keisha Atkins’ death occurred and how it was handled after the fact. And that person’s instincts were right.
If this information can prevent others from suffering Atkins’ fate, it is morally imperative to make sure the public – as well as the authorities investigating UNM and SWO — knows about it.
Operation Rescue urges the New Mexico Medical Board and the Attorney General’s office to aggressively investigate Keisha Atkins’ death, and bring those responsible for it and its cover-up to justice.
Keisha Maria Atkins, 23, died on February 4, 2017 — four days into a late-term abortion process at Southwestern Women’s Options abortion facility in Albuquerque, NM.
Report by Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Vice President of Operation Rescue
Albuquerque, NM – A woman has died as the result of a late-term abortion process initiated at Southwestern Women’s Options (SWO), in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which is the largest abortion facility in the U.S. that openly specializes in abortions throughout all nine months of pregnancy.
Abortion Free New Mexico obtained the autopsy report for Keisha Marie Atkins, 23, who died on February 4, 2017, after being transported from SWO to UNM Hospital. Tara Shaver of Abortion Free New Mexico has also been in communication with members of Atkins’ family.
Operation Rescue is assisting Abortion Free New Mexico with an investigation of this tragedy.
This abortion-related death is particularly troubling in light of a criminal investigation that is currently underway by the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office into Southwestern Women’s Options and UNM. UNM has aggressively worked to increase second and third trimester abortions at SWO, which, in turn, is UNM’s largest provider of aborted baby tissue and organs. A U.S. House investigation found this arrangement violates state and federal law, despite stonewalling and obfuscation on the part of UNM and SWO.
Atkins reported to SWO on January 31, 2017, for a four day late-term abortion procedure that was to be done by eighty-year old abortion facility owner Curtis Boyd. It is believed that Atkins was six months pregnant or more.
Four days later, on February 3, 2017, Atkins returned to SWO for the completion of the abortion where she displayed labored breathing and signs of sepsis, a systemic, life-threatening infection.
At 12:04 p.m. on February 3, an ambulance was called to transport Atkins to the hospital, but was later cancelled, raising questions of how and when Atkins actually received emergency medical help.
Once at the UNM Medical Center, Atkins’ condition deteriorated rapidly, prompting UNM staff to perform an emergency D&E abortion procedure to remove her baby through dismemberment.
During the procedure, Atkins suffered cardiac arrest. Efforts to revive her were unsuccessful, and she was pronounced dead at 12:10 a.m. on February 4, 2017.
An autopsy was conducted at the UNM Health Sciences Center by the UNM Office of the Medical Investigator, which also serves as the Bernadillo County Coroner. The OMI determined that Atkins cause of death was “pulmonary thromboembolism due to pregnancy,” in other words, blood clots in the lungs.
However, a careful review of the autopsy findings indicates that this cause of death is a whitewash meant to blame Atkins’ pregnancy for her death instead of what appears to be a mismanaged late-term abortion procedure.
“UNM is a biased promoter of abortion that is attempting to shift blame onto Atkins’ pregnancy, instead of the abortion, where the blame rightfully belongs,” said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue. “Keisha Atkins and her family deserve the truth, not a cover-up. But with UNM and SWO, covering up their misdeeds has become standard operating procedure.”
There is evidence that Atkins suffered from sepsis, a bacterial infection caused by the four-day abortion process, which brought about symptoms consistent with Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC). Atkins suffered hemorrhaging in her brain, a buildup of fluid around her lungs, and other symptoms of DIC that the autopsy ignored.
Pro-life leaders believe there is a way to keep other women from suffering Atkins’ fate.
“We call on the New Mexico Attorney General to step up their criminal investigation, and we call on the State Medical Board to take a hard, honest look at Keisha Atkins’ death,” Newman said. “Curtis Boyd should be stopped from practicing, and the dangerous Southwestern Women’s Options should be shut down for good.”
“Coverups are as heinous as the crimes, and the crimes of the abortion cartel in New Mexico have been covered up for too many years. It is time for Hector Balderas to do his job or resign. It is time for the UNM Regents to do their jobs or resign. It is time for the New Mexico Medical Board to fully investigate Keisha’s death without bias,” said Fr. Stephen Imbarrato, The Protest Priest.
“We join the family of Keisha Atkins as they grieve her death from serious complications during a late term abortion at Southwestern Women’s Options. She was a 23-year old vibrant woman with her whole life ahead of her that was tragically cut short,” stated Tara Shaver of Abortion Free New Mexico. “For years we have worked to expose the barbaric nature of late term abortion in New Mexico and sought to bring accountability to the unregulated and unaccountable Abortion Cartel. Now more than ever, we need leadership in our city and state to take a bold stand and the necessary steps to prevent the needless deaths of women and their children through late term abortion.”
Albuquerque, NM- Abortion Free New Mexico and Priests for Life have released a new video taken from an undercover phone call placed to Southwestern Women’s Options late term abortion facility that clearly explains how second and third trimester abortions are performed in New Mexico.
A healthy woman posing as 25 weeks pregnant is given an overview by an abortion worker detailing how the 3-4 day labor and delivery procedure will take place. Late term abortion is a grueling process that begins every Tuesday, in Albuquerque, with the killing of a baby by a lethal injection of the medication digoxin and culminates at the end of the week when labor is induced and she delivers a stillborn child. Pre-born babies can survive outside the womb at this gestation, and sometimes earlier in the pregnancy.
In a recent rare interview, Curtis Boyd, owner of Southwestern Women’s Options claims that he provides abortions to women “who are dying if they do not get the abortion, women who have severe congenital defects.” However, if a woman was truly dying she would never subject herself to a 3-4 day abortion procedure. She would go to a hospital where if it were absolutely necessary to end the pregnancy, the pre-born child would be removed from her womb (alive) via a Caesarean section.
In fact, a previous undercover recording Abortion Free New Mexico and Priests for Life released demonstrated that Southwestern Women’s Options screens their patients for health indicators to ensure that the woman is healthy enough for a late term procedure.It would be medical negligence to perform a lengthy abortion procedure on a woman whose life is truly at risk.
Curtis Boyd and his staff at Southwestern Women’s Options are actually the ones placing the lives of women at risk by performing dangerous late term abortions. In fact, a Southwestern Women’s Options consent form obtained by Abortion Free New Mexico’s Tara Shaver in 2012 states that abortions done after 18 weeks are more dangerous than carrying the baby to full term.
Another video released by Abortion Free New Mexico and Priests for Life exposed that Southwestern Women’s Options isn’t in the habit of performing late term abortions to save the lives of women as Curtis Boyd claims, but is instead operating under an archaic eugenic mindset that empowers their abortionists to willingly abort pre-born babies who are found to have “congenital defects” otherwise known as birth defects. Killing babies who are handicapped is at the heart of Curtis Boyd’s late term abortion business.
“Southwestern Women’s Options uses an injection to stop the hearts of pre-born babies and a concoction of several medications to artificially induce labor in women and then sends them away to wait for their child to be born dead. This precarious cocktail of medications is and has resulted in serious life threatening complications. In May 2011 a patient at Southwestern Women’s Options was rushed to the emergency room after her uterus ruptured during the very same procedure documented in this call. She was 35 weeks pregnant,” Tara Shaver said. “Late-term abortions are not, as some say, ‘only done to save the lives of women,’ they are performed to make Curtis Boyd huge profits at the expense of precious human lives.
In this call a $8,500 fee is quoted for an abortion at 25 weeks of pregnancy. A Manta.com search of Curtis Boyd in Albuquerque shows that his abortion business has an “annual revenue of $1 to $2.5 million.”
“Americans continue, in large majorities, to reject late term abortion,” said Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life. “We will continue to expose it by undercover phone calls, so that the existence of these procedures, and their utter barbarity, will be indisputable in the minds and hearts of more and more of our fellow citizens, and that they will take action to end abortion.”
Abortion Free New Mexico is working with Priests for Life to raise national awareness about late term abortion and have released eight undercover recordings:
Priests for Life is the nation’s largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit www.priestsforlife.org.
Albuquerque, NM- A new undercover recording released by Abortion Free New Mexico and Priests for Life exposes an unholy alliance between Southwestern Women’s Options late term abortion mill and local clergy. The New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice is the organization that is responsible for facilitating contact between clergy and abortion patients.
In this latest recording, an undercover caller states that she is 29 weeks pregnant with a baby that has a fetal anomaly. She exhibits being a little apprehensive about the late term abortion due to her Catholic faith, but is reassured by clinic staff, “believe it or not“ there is a priest that will come to the clinic before, after and even during her procedure.
The New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice is deceptively using religion to justify and promote abortion (the act of killing another human being) and recently they have published a list of over 70 local clergy that are being used to ease the consciences of women seeking late term abortions. This list includes well known liberal denominations like Unitarian Universalists and also pseudo-Catholic parishes that are not recognized by the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.
“These are false prophets,” said Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life and President of the National Pro-life Religious Council, which commissioned a book about the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. “Any religion that justifies the killing of a baby is not a religion worthy of belief. Those who pretend it is are using the Lord’s name in vain.”
Curtis Boyd, the owner of Southwestern Women’s Options, has been vocal in the past about his religious background as an ordained Baptist minister and has confessed to praying over the children he readily admits that he knows he’s killing, “I’ll ask that the spirit of this pregnancy be returned to God with love, with understanding.”
Early on when Boyd betrayed true medicine and started providing abortions he knew then that having clergy behind him was important. He still sees the value in this today and is greatly benefiting from his collaboration with the New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.
Boyd has conspired with the New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice to, “meet whatever religious criteria” these women need to keep them in the clinic and ensure that they follow through with lucrative late term abortions.The abortion clinic staff even admits that, “We don’t know how we’d do [late term abortions] without them.” At 29 weeks of pregnancy SWO charges $11,500 and an additional $1,000 each week after that.
“It seems to be the trend now in the pro-abortion community to try and harness a religious undertone to justify abortion and use misguided clergy to reassure women in their decision to kill their children,” said Tara Shaver, spokeswoman for Abortion Free New Mexico. “It used to be that signs reading, ‘Keep your rosaries off my ovaries’ were a common theme to separate religion and abortion, but now late term abortionists are dependent upon groups like the New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice to accommodate abortion patients and give them a false sense of hope that they are making the right decision, when they in fact are not. Clergy who participate in abortion are complicit in the deaths of these children. These are not true of leaders of the faith, but they have denied the truth and are leading others astray.”
No Gestational Limits
Many in this country do not want to believe that abortions are done up to the day of birth, however, in her own words, abortion clinic worker Susan Duda tells the undercover caller that “There are no gestational limits for aborting babies with fetal anomalies,” which means that they will provide an abortion through all nine months of pregnancy.
Duda even sympathisizes with the caller who says she doesn’t want to think about having to deal with raising a disabled child by stating, “That’s a lifetime of commitment.”
Having children is a lifetime commitment but it’s better than living with a lifetime of regret or worse. Operation Rescue reported that a Kansas woman committed suicide last month on the very same day that she had her abortion.
Abortion Free New Mexico is working with Priests for Life to raise national awareness about late term abortion and have released eight undercover recordings:
Priests for Life is the nation’s largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit www.priestsforlife.org.
Albuquerque, NM- Abortion Free New Mexico and Priests for Life have compiled another video in their ongoing series to expose late term abortion in America. This latest undercover recording exposes how the late term abortion facility Southwestern Women’s Options arbitrarily differentiates between a baby and biohazard waste when discussing the disposal of the remains of the babies terminated at their facility.
New Mexico is the land of unrestricted abortion, there are no limitations on how late abortions can be performed. In addition, there is no fixed standard of determining which babies live or die, there are no abortion clinic safety standards and now Southwestern Women’s Options late term abortion facility has been found making a bizarre distinction between babies who are healthy and those with a fetal anomaly. This latest recording begs the question as to what the result of an abortion is, a dead baby or biohazard waste? …and who decides?
Southwestern Women’s Options tells a woman posing as 33 weeks pregnant, that they have a working relationship with Riverside Funeral Home, which will come to the abortion facility and collect the baby remains for cremation after the abortion. Staffers at both the funeral home and the abortion facility refer to the dead unborn children as “babies.”
However, the option to cremate the remains only applies to disabled babies. When another woman, 25 weeks pregnant, inquires about what happens to her healthy baby after her abortion, she is told that the remains are considered biohazard waste and that the whole baby is incinerated.
Cremation: the disposal of a dead person’s body by burning it to ashes.
Incineration: the destruction of something, especially waste material, by burning.
“To think that Southwestern Women’s Options is pitching cremation to women seeking late-term abortions in order to somehow buffer killing disabled babies while the other babies are incinerated as biohazard waste is schizophrenic,” said Tara Shaver of Abortion Free New Mexico. “Cremation, by definition, refers to what is done to a dead person’s body. It’s imperative that we, our leaders and every sane person speak out and act on behalf of these human babies who are being brutally killed each day in New Mexico.”
According to a quote attributed to Nazi propagandists during a regime that killed over 12 million people, “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.”
For more than 44 years in America, abortion profiteers and their supporters in politics and the media have insisted that abortion does not kill babies. This has resulted in over 60 million lives being terminated in American abortion businesses.
But as the abortionists themselves at Southwestern Women’s Options admit, they are killing babies even in the latest stages of pregnancy.
“Anyone with a conscience will be horrified by these recordings,” added Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life. “They speak of fingerprints, toe-prints, baby clothes, photos, and funeral homes. These are things associated with human beings, and children who — once they’re born — we all agree should be protected. What is revealed here is an ongoing prejudice, discrimination, and oppression towards the children in the womb, and it must end.”
Listen to notorious late term abortionist and owner of Southwestern Women’s Options, Curtis Boyd’s, candid admission with reporters:
Abortion Free New Mexico is working with Priests for Life to raise national awareness about late term abortion and have released eight undercover recordings:
Priests for Life is the nation’s largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit www.priestsforlife.org.
Albuquerque, NM- In part 4 of a 6 part series documenting the New Mexico Abortion Cartel, Abortion Free New Mexico (AFNM) takes a look at Southwestern Women’s Options (SWO), the nations largest late term abortion facility.
Southwestern Women’s Options advertises on it’s website, “Elective Abortions through 28 weeks… Later Abortion for Maternal and Fetal Indications.”
(Screenshot from SWO website)
Previous reports by AFNM have revealed that SWO is drawing women from all across the world for barbaric full term abortions, thus making Albuquerque known nationally as the Late Term Abortion Capital.
This report pulls back the curtain on the abortion cartel in New Mexico that is self regulating with arbitrary standards because of the absence of any common sense legislation which would provide oversight and accountability that is so desperately needed.
The latest undercover recording released by Abortion Free New Mexico and Priests for Life reveals just how arbitrary the standard is for determining which baby lives or dies at Southwestern Women’s Options.
Listen to the undercover recording here.
Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director, Priests for Life issued the following statement,
“Once again, this undercover call reveals that abortions are taking place legally in our country even in the third trimester of pregnancy. We will continue to expose this evil in the weeks and months to come. We call on all Americans, including those who identify themselves as “prochoice,” to communicate to their legislators their opposition to these late term procedures, so that we can begin restoring protection to these children.”
In the first call to Southwestern, a caller posed as a woman who was pregnant with a baby who had been diagnosed with Down syndrome. Without hesitation she was given an abortion appointment, despite being 33 weeks pregnant.
In a second call, an undercover caller posed as a healthy woman pregnant with a 30-week healthy pre-born baby whom she has decided to abort because her husband lost his job.
The third calling, a minor posing as the victim of incest by an older family member is seeking a late-term abortion at 26 weeks of pregnancy. Instead of urging the sexual assault victim to contact the authorities – as required by law — the abortion clinic staff gives the young girl a phone number to the New Mexico Medicaid office so that she can obtain the $7,500 procedure for free.
The fourth call combines two earlier calls and adds new details, including that mothers so far advanced in their pregnancies should not be aborted in stand-alone clinics like Southwestern – although they are – and that the availability of third-trimester abortions depends on the “comfort” level of the abortionist.
“The bottom line is that SWO is willing to terminate a disabled child in spite of their own admission that late- term abortions shouldn’t be done in an outpatient clinic because they pose significant risks to mothers,” said Tara Shaver, spokeswoman for Abortion Free New Mexico.
“The ‘comfort’ zone of the abortionists at Southwestern Women’s Options, which appear to be based on an arbitrary eugenic standard, have ultimately led them to decide which babies should live or die. Barbaric late- term abortions are rejected by the majority of the American people because viable babies are being killed, and in our latest undercover recording, the abortion workers themselves admit that late-term abortions shouldn’t be performed because they are too dangerous for the women seeking them. New Mexico abortion facilities need oversight and accountability that comes from common-sense regulations,” Mrs. Shaver said.
Since 2010, Tara Shaver of AFNM with the help of Operation Rescue has documented at least 17 abortion related injuries inflicted upon women at Southwestern Women’s Options. At least one of these horrific injuries was the result of a late term abortion performed by abortionist Shelley Sella at 35 weeks of pregnancy. The pregnant woman from New York came to Albuquerque to have her baby killed because of a diagnosed fetal anomaly. Sella ignored the risks and committed four acts of gross negligence during the abortion that caused a ruptured uterus and required medical transport to a nearby hospital.
“The ‘comfort’ zone of the abortionists at Southwestern Women’s Options, that appear to be based on an arbitrary eugenic standard, have ultimately led them to decide which babies should live or die. Barbaric late term abortions are rejected by the majority of the American people because viable babies are being killed, and in our latest undercover recording, the abortion workers themselves admit that late term abortions shouldn’t be performed because they are too dangerous for the women seeking them. New Mexico abortion facilities need oversight and accountability that comes from common sense regulations,” said Tara Shaver, spokeswoman for Abortion Free New Mexico.
Facts Uncovered about Southwestern Women’s Options since 2010
Southwestern Women’s Option is drawing women from all across the country and the world for late-term abortions making Albuquerque, New Mexico known as the Late Term Abortion Capital.
Abortions have been performed at Southwestern Women’s Options up to 35 weeks gestation. Beyond 28 weeks of pregnancy terminations are arbitrarily decided on a “case by case basis.”
New Mexico law [NM Stat § 30-5-1] criminalizes the practice of late term abortions that are performed outside of hospitals. However, this law is not being enforced, leaving women to suffer at the hands of unregulated abortionists at Southwestern Women’s Options.
Every Tuesday late term abortions are started at Southwestern Women’s Options and take 3-4 days to complete.
Abortionist Curtis Boyd owns and runs Southwestern Women’s Options located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Current abortionists at Southwestern Women’s Options are Shelley Sella, who resides in California and Carmen Landau, who lives in Albuquerque.
Shelley Sella has a Notice of Contemplated Action on her New Mexico medical license for the botched 35 week abortion she performed in 2011. Tara Shaver and Operation Rescue filed the complaint which prompted the New Mexico Medical Board investigation.
Southwestern Women’s Options is the sole provider of fetal remains to the University of New Mexico.
Southwestern Women’s Options is currently under investigation by the New Mexico Attorney General prompted by a complaint filed in July 2015 by Tara Shaver on the basis of potential violations of two state statutes regarding the illegal use of aborted fetal remains for medical research at the University of New Mexico.
UPDATED: Reports released by Abortion Free New Mexico in a 6 Part Series exposing the New Mexico Abortion Cartel:
UPDATED: Abortion Free New Mexico is working with Priests for Life to raise national awareness about late term abortion and have released 19 undercover recordings:
Priests for Life is the nation’s largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit www.priestsforlife.org.
Santa Teresa, NM- In an undercover call placed on May 17, 2017 to Hill Top Women’s Reproductive Clinic in El Paso, TX the caller posing as a 15 year old minor inquires about obtaining an abortion without her parents involvement.
Without hesitation the abortion facility worker refers the young girl to their “other clinic location in Santa Teresa.” Located according to Hill Top Women’s Reproductive Clinic’s website, “Only 11 minutes from Downtown El Paso.” It’s as if this is one of the main reasons the Santa Teresa abortion facility located a few miles across the border in New Mexico exists.
An abortion appointment is secured for the following Saturday and all the minor is required to bring is $430.00 and her identification card.
New Mexico has become the place where abortionist Franz Theard, who owns two abortion facilities, one in El Paso, TX and the other in Santa Teresa, NM is circumventing reasonable Texas laws that were enacted to protect minors from sexual abuse.
(Abortionist Franz Theard)
At Hill Top Women’s Reproductive Clinic in Santa Teresa abortions are performed up to 10 weeks of pregnancy by administering RU486 to starve pre-born babies of the essential nutrient progesterone. These procedures are performed weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays according to clinic staff.
“Hill Top Women’s Reproductive Clinic is yet another example of abortion providers in New Mexico who ignore the best interests of minors who seek out an abortion. Minors are vulnerable and often the victims of sexual abuse, Franz Theard is enabling sexual predators when he purposefully takes advantage of New Mexico’s lack of common sense laws and circumvents the reasonable limitations of Texas,” said Tara Shaver, spokeswoman for Abortion Free New Mexico.
History of Violations in New Mexico and Texas
On July, 11 2013, Julie Aragon, the New Mexico Health Facility Compliance Officer with the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) program emailed Hill Top Women’s Reproductive Clinic in Santa Teresa because she noticed that their website stated that they offered lab services but the required CLIA certificate was not on file.
This email was not answered by Theard or his staff. On September 10, 2014, Julie Aragon visited the Santa Teresa location unannounced to investigate unauthorized testing. The official CLIA report noted the following violations and discrepancies:
Urine pregnancy tests and RH blood tests were being performed without required CLIA certification.
An open urine pregnancy test cassette was on the break room counter next to a small refrigerator. Blood reagents were also found in the refrigerator.
Failure to follow manufacturer’s instructions when checking Rh blood status in patients.
Failure to perform quality control measures daily.
Failure to maintain a log of patients tested onsite.
Failure to maintain copies of training, highest level of education, or competency assessments for testing personnel.
Failure to monitor refrigerator temperature where testing agents were kept.
Failure to maintain documentation of the lot numbers and expiration dates of pregnancy tests and blood reagents.
The CLIA program only ensures and monitors laboratory testing and has no jurisdiction over the surgical portion of abortion facilities. However, when a laboratory isn’t being run properly it begs the question, what other discrepancies the facility may have?
Since this location was not properly CLIA certified, all testing was halted until the certification was obtained.
In a 2015 a CLIA survey of Hill Top Women’s Reproductive Clinic in El Paso, Texas, documentation on AbortionDocs.org showed multiple violations including, a violation of the judicial bypass requirement for minors having an abortion as well as violating the requirement to verbally explain sonogram images to minors before they have an abortion.
Other violations included disregarding the 2 hour waiting period, failure to provide patients with local hospital information and failure to ensure that their equipment was properly sterilized.
Taking Life or Giving Life?
Franz Theard does abortions on certain days of the week and then delivers babies at local Texas hospitals on other days. He seems to be caught in between two worlds, and tries to keep them separate. Abortion Free New Mexico found a website for Theard’s OB/GYN practice that does not mention abortion at all. There is also an unofficial Facebook page where women often check in for prenatal appointments and ultrasounds.
On the other hand Hilltop Women’s Reproductive Clinic’s website boasts abortion services with the ability to bypass the Texas 24 hour waiting period.
“This report by Abortion Free New Mexico is only a glimpse inside of Franz Theard’s shoddy abortion operation that has creeped into New Mexico. Abortionist Franz Theard has a sordid history of abortion violations and our latest undercover recording reveals that Theard’s El Paso clinic is instructing minors how to obtain abortions in New Mexico in violation of Texas law. Franz Theard is living a double life in his practice by working in Texas hospitals delivering babies while simultaneously killing babies in both Texas and New Mexico. Theard has betrayed true medicine and is currently capitalizing on New Mexico’s lack of the most basic laws regulating abortion,” stated Tara Shaver.
Read Parts 1 and 2 of Abortion Free New Mexico’s series exposing the New Mexico abortion cartel:
Albuquerque, NM- In a new undercover video by Abortion Free New Mexico and Priests for Life, the caller posing as a minor and victim of incest by an older family member is seeking a late-term abortion at 26 weeks of pregnancy. Instead of urging the minor to contact the authorities, the abortion clinic staff gives the young girl a phone number to the New Mexico Medicaid office so that she can obtain the $7,500 procedure for free.
New Mexico Statute Section 30-10-3 provides that “Incest consists of knowingly intermarrying or having sexual intercourse with persons within the following degrees of consanguinity: parents and children including grandparents and grandchildren of every degree, brothers and sisters of the half as well as the whole blood, uncles and nieces, aunts and nephews. Whoever commits incest is guilty of a third-degree felony.
The New Mexico basic sentencing guidelines in Section 31-18-15 provides “for a thirddegreefelony for a sexual offense against a child, six years imprisonment.”
Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, stated, “This latest undercover call continues to rip the veil off the abortion industry and show our nation what even most ‘prochoice’ people oppose: late term abortion of healthy babies, paid for by taxpayers, and conducted by an industry which provides cover for sexual predators. What we need to know to end abortion is found in the abortion industry itself. We just need to continue exposing it, and we will.”
In our previous undercover video Abortion Free New Mexico and Priests for Life exposed that New Mexico is the land of unrestricted abortion where any woman (or even a young girl) can obtain a late term abortion into the third trimester of pregnancy for any reason. Minors who seek abortions are often being sexually abused by an older male, as is in the case of this latest undercover video, even a family member can be the perpetrator. Providing these young girls with abortions does not stop the abuse they face, it merely covers it up and allows it to continue.
Currently New Mexico does not require parental involvement when their minor child seeks an abortion. There are, however, laws to protect minors that require mandatory reporting to authorities if there is even the suspicion of sexual abuse.
Angelo Artuso, Senior Legal Counsel for Abortion Free New Mexico issued the following statement, “Southwestern Women’s Options (and any other abortion provider) has a duty to report possible incest regarding a 16-year old minor seeking an abortion. Under the mandatory reporting law (Section 32A-4-3A), physicians and nurses have a duty to report suspected child abuse. The law (Section 32A-4-2 I) provides that child abuse includes criminal sexual penetration, incest, OR criminal sexual contact. Because incest is included as a separate category of sexual abuse, the “age of consent” and the “Romeo and Juliet” exceptions to “statutory rape” do NOT apply. Failure to report suspected incest of a minor is a misdemeanor (Section 32A-4-3F) punishable by up to 364 days in the county jail or up to a $1,000 fine, or both.”
Mandatory reporting is set forth in Section 32A-4-3 A which provides:
Every person, including a licensed physician; a resident or intern examining, attending or treating a child; a law enforcement officer; a judge presiding during a proceeding; a registered nurse; a visiting nurse; a schoolteacher; a school official; a social worker acting in an official capacity; or a member of the clergy who has information that is not privileged as a matter of law, who knows or has a reasonable suspicion that a child is an abused or neglected child shall report the matter immediately to:
Abortion Free New Mexico is working with Priests for Life to raise national awareness about late term abortion and have released eight undercover recordings:
As part of this effort, the organizations are conducting a survey looking for people who identify themselves as “prochoice” but who nevertheless support the protection of children in the womb in the later stages of pregnancy.
Priests for Life is the nation’s largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit www.priestsforlife.org.
Albuquerque, NM- In Part 1 of Abortion Free New Mexico’s series documenting the Abortion Landscape Shift in New Mexico, the report highlighted how the abortion cartel is in full retreat and that their plans of expansion have been stifled. In part 2 of this series AFNM will reveal how Planned Parenthood is facing a crisis of their own in New Mexico.
Planned Parenthood NM Closing Three Referral Clinics
“Three out of New Mexico’s six clinic locations will close in September, according to Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains Chief Experience Officer Adrienne Mansanares. ‘We are making some difficult decisions about the best way to stay in New Mexico into the future,’ Mansanares said.The clinics in Farmington, Rio Rancho, and Nob Hill in Albuquerque will close.”
These three Planned Parenthood locations are referral centers that provide contraceptives, the morning after pill and abortion referrals.
UPDATED: Tara Shaver, spokeswoman for Abortion Free New Mexico, said Thursday that she feels the national funding conversation could be contributing to the closures.
“It all kind of makes sense to us when we look at the climate change … under President Trump,” she said. “This is a step in the right direction for building a culture of life in New Mexico.”Read the full report from the Albuquerque Journal: Planned Parenthood to close 3 clinics in northern NM
Planned Parenthood of New Mexico Has No Legitimate Abortionist on Staff
In an undercover call placed to the last remaining Planned Parenthood in New Mexico providing surgical abortions which is located in Albuquerque, the caller was informed that typically this location does provide abortions up to 18 weeks but that they are currently not offering surgical abortions since they are struggling to keep an abortionist on staff.
Their lack of an abortion provider could be the result of a New Mexico Nursing Board complaint filed in 2016 by Abortion Free New Mexico’s Tara Shaver based on state medicaid data showing that Nurse Practitioner Vivianne Clark was paid by New Mexico medicaid for performing abortions between 17-24 weeks, which is illegal for a non-physician to do in New Mexico. The second part of the undercover video reveals that Clark continues to provide medical RU486 abortions in Santa Fe despite being under investigation.
AFNM has long suspected that Santa Fe Planned Parenthood Nurse Practitioner, Vivianne Clark, is the primary abortionist in Albuquerque. While we wait for the result from the New Mexico Nursing Board investigation, we are hopeful that in the meantime this complaint has halted Clark’s potential illegal activity.
Another key factor that is possibly hampering Planned Parenthood’s ability to keep an abortionist on staff is directly linked to the Center for Medical Progress’s (CMP) videos that exposed the true nature of Planned Parenthood’s abortion business. Legitimate physicians simply aren’t willing to work for Planned Parenthood.
An additional result of the CMP videos was local and national protests calling for the defunding of the abortion giant. This has ultimately been the catalyst for the momentum we are now witnessing and has culminated with President Donald J. Trump recently signing an executive order giving states the ability to defund Planned Parenthood locally.
According to Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Vice President of Operation Rescue, “Planned Parenthood is in a panic to reorganize as their federal funding dries up. They must jettison their centers that aren’t making money. For Planned Parenthood, abortion, and the money it produces, is their number-one priority.”
While much of what we see regarding the shift in New Mexico’s abortion landscape is good news, we must remain vigilant. Fr. Stephen Imbarrato reflects upon a national trend that he has witnessed in his national ministry with Priests for Life, “It is important to understand that Planned Parenthood’s operational strategy all over the country has been to consolidate its operations and build state or regional megacenters. We will be researching and monitoring what next step Planned Parenthood is planning here in New Mexico.”
Albuquerque, NM- In 2010 when we were invited to New Mexico as pro-life missionaries by Fr. Stephen Imbarrato, the abortion landscape was a lot different than what it is today. The three of us in conjunction with Operation Rescue quickly coined the title “Late Term Abortion Capital” to describe Albuquerque and designated New Mexico as the “Abortion Capital of the Southwest.” An article in the Albuquerque Journal quoted radical pro-abortion activists who, “[Ranked] New Mexico No. 1 in the nation for providing equal access to sexual and reproductive health services.” We, however, were determined to push back against the New Mexico abortion cartel that was eager to expand it’s killing business even deeper into New Mexico.
At that time Albuquerque was home to four surgical abortion killing centers. Santa Fe was home to two abortion facilities one of which performed surgical abortions and Southern New Mexico was home to Santa Teresa based abortionist Franz Theard.
Due to New Mexico’s lack of common sense abortion restrictions, notorious late term abortionist Curtis Boyd, who owns Southwestern Women’s Options, had effectively expanded his child killing empire into New Mexico and abortionist Franz Theard had expanded his abortion business across the border into New Mexico to evade Texas abortion laws. The University of New Mexico, which we have since identified as, “The Heart of the New Mexico Abortion Cartel” was aggressively expanding its radical abortion agenda and Whole Woman’s Health opened and set up shop in Las Cruces, NM in 2014.
In no time at all we began to put the pieces together and uncovered the corruption that has permeated the state and kept abortion unrestricted for so long. We outed abortionists and made sure everyone knew who is willing to kill pre-born children for a profit. We began to expose horrific abortion injuries at Southwestern Women’s Options late term abortion center and at the University of New Mexico. As a result we saw the New Mexico Medical board hold a disciplinary hearing against late term abortionist Shelley Sella for a botched 35 week abortion. The layers of the cartel began to peel away so that we could see things more clearly.
Now only five abortion centers remain in the state and Albuquerque alone is home to the state’s three last remaining surgical abortion killing centers.
UNM Center for Reproductive Health (Albuquerque, NM)- Offering surgical abortions through 24 weeks gestation.
Southwestern Women’s Options(Albuquerque, NM)- Offering third trimester surgical abortions through all 9 months of pregnancy.
Planned Parenthood (Santa Fe, NM)- Only offering RU-486 medical abortions.
Hill Top Women’s Reproductive Clinic (Santa Theresa, NM)- Only offering RU-486 medical abortions.
The New Mexico abortion cartel is facing immense pressure. Southwestern Women’s Options and The University of New Mexico are currently under investigation by the New Mexico Attorney General. They have, in the past year, been under scrutiny by the congressional Select Panel on Infant Lives. In addition, we have an active complaint with the New Mexico Nursing board regarding what we believe to be illegal abortions performed by a Planned Parenthood abortionist.
Tara Shaver, spokeswoman for Abortion Free New Mexico issued the following statement,
“Over the past seven years, new pro-life organizations have begun and there has been a dramatic reversal and public policy shift in New Mexico. Great strides have been made and now we see the New Mexico abortion cartel being stifled instead of continuing their expansion throughout New Mexico. The abortion industry is in full retreat!”
During the coming weeks Abortion Free New Mexico will be releasing in-depth reports on the New Mexico abortion cartel.
“Since the Shavers have been working to end abortion in New Mexico, they have made great strides in exposing rampant abortion abuses, helping to close abortion businesses, and saving lives. To achieve the goal of an abortion-free state, it takes the wisdom that comes from experience and gritty determination. The Shavers are certainly up to the task of building an Abortion Free New Mexico.” Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Vice President of Operation Rescue
In addition to Operation Rescue, Abortion Free New Mexico is also working with Priests for Life to raise national awareness about late term abortion:
Albuquerque, NM- New Mexico is one of the poorest states in the country and is consistently ranked lowest in education, child well being while also having one of the highest crime rates in the nation. The state is currently facing a budget crisis and is struggling to keep the government running.
According to a recent article by the Associated Press,
“Cash reserves are dwindling, which will soon leave state finance officials unable to cut checks. The governor warned that will affect the state’s ability to make payroll and pay contracts.”
However, if you need a late term abortion, New Mexico is the go to place. New Mexico may not be able to pay its state workers, but New Mexico Medicaid will pay over $15,000 to local abortionists to kill a child in the womb.
New Mexico is the land of unrestricted abortion. There are no limitations on when abortions may be performed and late term abortionists at Southwestern Women’s Options have capitalized on the state’s lack of protection for human life.
In a recorded phone call to Southwestern Women’s Options on May 2, 2017, Abortion Free New Mexico confirmed that a late term abortion at 30 weeks of pregnancy was simple to obtain on the basis of a lost job and the prospect of another child adding more stress to the family unit. The life of the mother was not in danger and the baby was perfectly healthy.
Tara Shaver, spokeswoman for Abortion Free New Mexico issued the following statement:
“The myth that late term abortions only occur when a woman’s life is at risk or when the baby has been diagnosed with an anomaly could not be further from the truth. Our latest video dispels this myth with proof that in New Mexico late term abortions are easy to come by.
New Mexicans deserve to hear the truth about the evil that is occurring in our state and our leaders must work to change the fact that New Mexico is the late-term abortion capital of the country.”
Abortion Free New Mexico is working with Priests for Life to raise national awareness about late term abortion.
Father Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life noted that the majority of Americans do not support late-term abortion and do not want taxpayer money funding used to kill fully developed, well past viability children.
“Every abortion is an outrage, and we need to protect every baby. To educate our fellow citizens, let’s start with the most obvious and outrageous part of the story: taxpayer-funded third-trimester abortions of healthy babies carried by healthy mothers.”
Watch the video, inform yourself and others: #NewMexicoTrue: Land of Unrestricted Abortion
Abortion Free New Mexico is working with Priests for Life to raise national awareness about late term abortion and have released eight undercover recordings:
Priests for Life is the nation’s largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit www.priestsforlife.org.
Saturday, April 29th: 11am-12pm Defund Planned Parenthood Protest, Sponsored by Abortion Free New Mexico. Click here for more information. Location: 701 San Mateo Blvd. NE. Albuquerque, NM 87108
Use street parking.
National Day of Prayer
Thursday, May 4th: 12pm-1pm National Day of Prayer, Sponsored by New Mexico Prays with special guests: Lt. Governor John Sanchez, Pastor Skip Heitzig, Archbishop John Wester, City Councilor Dan Lewis, Chief of Police Gorden Eden Location: Civic Plaza, 1 Civic Plaza NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Parking is available at Civic Plaza underground parking, Convention Center parking garage, and various paid parking lots in downtown. Please see attached parking map.
National Day of Prayer Week
Friday, May 5th: 11:30am, National Day of Prayer Week, Sponsored by CSA. Bud will be speaking Friday, May 5th at 11:30am on the topic of Making New Mexico Abortion Free during National Day of Prayer week at Glory Christian Fellowship in Albuquerque. For the full week of speakers, times and locations please visit the CSA website here. Location: Glory Christian Fellowship, 2417 Wyoming Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, 87112
Albuquerque, NM- In January of 2015 a 20 year old woman from Great Britain sought a destination willing to perform an abortion for her at 30 weeks of pregnancy… so that she could continue going to college. Did she have to go to Vietnam, China, or North Korea? No, she traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico to have her baby killed.
Why didn’t she have her late-term abortion in Great Britain? Because the international community has rightfully rejected barbaric late term abortions. Only 7 nations including China, North Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Canada, Netherlands and the United States of America still allow them.
Most Americans refuse to accept the assertion that late term abortions are performed here. Interestingly, late-term abortion is overwhelmingly rejected by 80% of American women! Even a majority of the “pro-choice” community is uneasy declaring their support for such a barbaric procedure.
Unfortunately, the majority opinion hasn’t translated into public policy…
Albuquerque, New Mexico is home to the nation’s largest late term abortion killing center, Southwestern Women’s Options and is considered the late term abortion capital of America, actually of the world. Late term abortions occur so regularly at Southwestern Women’s Options that late term abortionist Susan Robinson, who recently retired from SWO emphatically stated in an interview in 2014,
[Women] come from all over the United States and Canada and all over the world too; I mean you have patients who come to us from Europe, we have patients from Australia, we have patients from Afghanistan[.]
But don’t just take our word for it that late term abortions actually occur here or even the word of a former late term abortionist…
Listen to our latest undercover video for yourself:Exposed: 33 Week Late Term Abortion In New Mexico
“Americans must wake up and realize that bottom of the barrel states like New Mexico still allow late term abortions without restriction. This, in addition to the fact that through New Mexico Medicaid tax payers are funding these unconscionable procedures that at 33 weeks of pregnancy cost $15,500 should be enough for reasonable people to be pro-active in bringing late term abortions to an end. Late term abortions are a grisly trade and America must join the rest of civilized society and reject this inhumane treatment of pre-born babies,” stated Tara Shaver, spokeswoman for Abortion Free New Mexico.
Abortion Free New Mexico is working with Priests for Life to raise national awareness about late term abortion and have released eight undercover recordings:
Priests for Life is the nation’s largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit www.priestsforlife.org.
Albuquerque, NM- Please join us on April 18th from 6-8pm for our official launch of Abortion Free New Mexico joined by local and national leaders. The Christian community is vital to making New Mexico abortion free, come find out how you can be an integral part of this new effort.
When: Tuesday, April 18th from 6:00-8:00pm
Where: 3200 Vista Grande NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120
Why: For a special evening dedicated to making New Mexico abortion free.
Mark your calendars to come support local Pro-Life Missionaries Bud & Tara Shaver. Hear about their pro-life journey and the strategy they are implementing to make New Mexico abortion free.
To RSVP contact Tara Shaver: tara@abortionfreenm.com
Abortion Free NM (AFNM) is a systematic approach to closing the states abortion facilities. AFNM utilizes an innovative model for equipping Churches, Home/Bible study groups or Organizations in developing their own unique role in making New Mexico Abortion Free.
“Seek the well being of the city to which I have sent you. Pray for it to the Lord. For in seeking its well being you shall find your own.“ Jeremiah 29:7
Protest ABQ was a campaign that was intended to only last a season, until the fruit of our protest efforts produced an environment where we can accomplish our ultimate goal: Abortion Free: New Mexico…
Albuquerque, NM —Now that the Protest ABQ campaign has concluded, this does not mean that we are folding or backing down in ANY way. The protest efforts over the past 3 years have helped to produce a dramatic reversal and promising public policy shift in New Mexico. Now is the season for implementing proven strategies that will result in New Mexico becoming, Abortion Free.
As Pro-Life Missionaries, serving in New Mexico since 2010 our research and public awareness efforts have helped to expose that New Mexico is drawing women from all across the world and America to obtain barbaric late-term abortions that are illegal in their own hometowns. New Mexico is now known nationally as the late-term abortion capital. In addition, we have uncovered horrific conditions inside New Mexico abortion facilities, tax funded atrocities, and an unregulated out-of control abortion cartel that is operating without oversight or common sense regulations.
While God has accomplished so much through the prayers and support of so many, there is still more work to be done. We are now moving into the next phase to build upon the foundation that has been laid over the past 7 years…
Bud and Tara Shaver will host a special evening dedicated to making New Mexico abortion free on April 18th and will be the official launch of Abortion Free New Mexico.
For more information contact: Tara@AbortionFreeNM.com
Speakers Include:
-Troy Newman and Cheryl Sullenger, Operation Rescue Leaders
-Pastor Clarence Washington, Abundant Life Church
-Pastors Manny and Grace Lardizabal
and more…
Abortion Free is a proven strategy fine tuned over the past two decades by Operation Rescue leaders Troy Newman and Cheryl Sullenger. When abortion facilities close utilizing peaceful tactics and the abortion industry is exposed and convicted of the plethora of crimes that they are committing behind closed doors, lives are saved and communities become, Abortion Free!
Albuquerque, NM —Protest ABQ was officially launched in 2014 with the goals of educating the public to the fact that New Mexico had become the late-term abortion capital of the country and that the University of New Mexico (UNM) was the heart of the abortion cartel in the state. In addition, we wanted to expose and hold accountable those who either condone abortion outright or silently consent to it by refusing to take a bold public stand for protecting human life in the womb.
Our call was simple and concise…
Bud Shaver, executive director of Protest ABQ issued the following statement,
“Protest ABQ’s tireless efforts over the past three years have helped to produce a dramatic reversal and promising public policy shift in New Mexico. Now in 2017 we are grateful that political leaders have stepped up with solid pro-life bills over the past two legislative sessions and have committed to carrying pro-life legislation until abortion is completely eradicated in the state. The University of New Mexico has been exposed nationally as one of the most abortion friendly universities in the entire country and UNM’s collusion with the nations largest late-term abortion killing center is now under criminal investigation. In addition, we appreciate the religious leaders both Evangelical and Catholic who have recently demonstrated a willingness to publicly stand up for the babies, so we are standing down.”
Protest ABQ was a campaign that was intended to only last a season, until the fruit of our protest efforts produced an environment where we can accomplish our ultimate goal:
Abortion Free: New Mexico.
Stay tuned…
Visit ProtestABQ.com to read about our protest focuses and efforts over the past three years.
Albuquerque, NM — During a meeting with pro-life activists on Monday, March 6, 2017, representatives from the New Mexico Attorney General’s office confirmed that the University of New Mexico and Southwestern Women’s Options, the largest late-term abortion facility in the United States, are under investigation for violations of state law.
Tania Maestas, Deputy Attorney General, informed Tara Shaver, Senior Policy Advisor for ProtestABQ, and ProtestABQ’s senior attorney, Angelo Artuso, that a complaint filed by Shaver in 2015, is under investigation by the criminal division of the New Mexico Attorney General’s office.
Shaver’s complaint involved Southwestern Women’s Options consent forms from 2012 and 2015, which women are obligated to sign prior to abortions. Those forms state that the remains of babies aborted at Southwestern Women’s Options may be used in medical research.
In addition, Maestas informed Shaver and Artuso that the criminal referrals of UNM and Southwestern Women’s Options made by the U.S. House Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives to New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas last year, are also under investigation.
The House Select Investigative Panel presented Balderas with evidence to back up their findings, which included several key points. (Read more about this.)
1. Taxpayers partially fund both UNM and the Southwestern Women’s Options late-term abortion business.
2. Two UNM abortionists created a radically pro-abortion climate at the “resistant” university and created a cultural shift that now aggressively promotes abortion.
3. The primary goal of UNM’s partnership with Southwestern Women’s Options was to increase the volume of second trimester abortions, in order to provide the UNM Health Sciences Center with an ample supply of aborted infant remains for “research” and other purposes.
4. Southwestern Women’s Options is the sole provider of “aborted infant tissue” to the UNM Health Sciences Center (UNMHSC).
5. Whole brains from aborted babies were admittedly used for dissection by “summer camp” students.
6. UNM’s training agreement with Southwestern Women’s Options violated UNM’s own policies and procedures on such contracts.
7. UNM granted faculty status to Southwestern Women’s Options abortionists that included employee benefits that provided professional and financial benefit. These benefits may qualify as “valuable consideration,” which would put them in violation of State and Federal law.
8. The Select Investigative Panel agreed with Shaver’s conclusions that New Mexico’s Spradling Act was violated.
“This is a matter of urgency as aborted baby remains are still being harvested and transferred between the facilities for experimental research. Each day that passes poses a risk to the public and sends the message to the New Mexico abortion cartel that they have free reign to do as they please,” said Shaver. “We are grateful for the confirmation from the New Mexico Attorney General’s office that the complaint and referral before them is being taken seriously and we urge them to work quickly to resolve this very important matter.”
“We urge the New Mexico Attorney General’s office to move with all possible speed to bring those involved in criminal conduct at UNM and Southwestern Women’s Options to justice,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman, who also provided information during the Select Panel’s Investigation. “The longer the investigation drags on, the more UNM and the Southwestern Women’s Options abortion business will continue to break the law and exploit women, all at taxpayers’ expense.”
NEW MEXICO!
We have some serious problems. The most liberal assisted suicide bill in the nation has been proposed here in NM and is moving through the NM Roundhouse. This bill would pretty much allow anyone help anyone else commit suicide for any reason and then cover up the fact that it was an assisted suicide. Catholic democrats are supporting this and even some republicans!
(Proud Catholic for Choice, Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino)
Of course Ortiz y Pino is a radical democrat Catholic pro-abort who is a proud member of ABQ Catholics for Choice! There is a bill in this years legislative session that few people have noticed and I know you will take action when you see it. It is SB282 sponsored by Senator Ortiz y Pino of Albuquerque. This bill forces ALL hospitals in New Mexico to perform abortions and has penalties for those who refuse.
Action Needed to prevent bill that will hinder transparency at UNM and other research Universities.
By Tara Shaver
Albuquerque, NM- One of the many obstacles we face here in New Mexico is the lack of transparency. The University of New Mexico (UNM), in particular, is notorious for keeping things they don’t want brought to light, hidden from members of the public that fund them with their tax dollars. Rep. Jason Harper (R) from Rio Rancho is sponsoring a bill that will further protect UNM and other research Universities from being transparent and held accountable by public citizens.
“Instead of demanding more accountability and being more vocal about the University of New Mexico’s radical abortion agenda that is being funded by taxpayers, it is disconcerting that some Republicans are attempting introduce legislation that will provide more cover and less transparency. With this latest development coming to light, it is becoming more apparent that the Abortion Cartel in New Mexico is being given aid and cover by both the Republicans and Democrats,” stated Bud Shaver, executive director of Protest ABQ.
HB 267 the Exempt College Certain Proprietary Info Act seeks to prevent citizens from obtaining certain “proprietary” information through inspection of public records requests (IPRA). The language used in this bill is so broad that UNM and others could shut down IPRA requests by claiming that the information being sought fits the following criteria when in fact it does not.
“data, records or information of a proprietary nature produced or collected by or for faculty or staff of a public post-secondary educational institution in the conduct of or as a result of study or research on medical, scientific, technical or scholarly issues where such data, records or information has not been publicly released, published, copyrighted or patented;
In a free and open society, it is a fundamental right of every citizen to obtain and inspect public records especially from publicly funded institutions, like UNM. However, HB 267 will hinder that process and ultimately protect UNM and their radically pro-abortion agenda from public accountability that is already unchecked at every turn.
Angelo Artuso, attorney for Protest ABQ issued the following statement:
“HB 267 contains a dangerous amendment that will, in all likelihood, prevent the sort of public information that has been obtained over the years by local activists, showing UNM’s relationship with Southwestern Women’s Options and their collaboration in harvesting and utilizing aborted baby remains in research. On its face, the statute is too broad. Who will decide if the information obtained from a private party or entity is “proprietary?” What does that mean? Who decides whether information produced or collected by the University is properly considered “proprietary?”
There are too many questions surrounding this bill and too much at stake should it pass. For these reasons we ask you to contact Rep. Harper and ask him to withdraw this bill until he can work with someone who can amend it properly so that it doesn’t infringe upon a citizens right to have access to and inspect public records.
HB 267 is set to be heard in the House Education Committee on Friday, February 17, 2017. In addition, please contact these committee members and ask them to oppose HB267.
Sample Wording and Email Addresses to simply Copy/Paste:
In a free and open society, it is a fundamental right of every citizen to obtain and inspect public records especially from publicly funded institutions, like UNM. However, HB 267 will hinder that process and ultimately protect UNM and other universities from providing transparency regarding experimental research that is important for the public to know about.
In the interest of public accountability and oversight, please oppose HB 267.
Albuquerque, NM- The legislative session is well under way here in New Mexico. Today is the last day for legislators to submit their bills to be voted upon during this 60 day session. Both Republicans and Democrats have a slew of bills that represent where they stand on some very important issues facing our state and our nation.
Republicans have sponsored legislation to protect babies born alive during abortions as well as late term abortion victims who have high probabilities of living outside the womb if given the chance.
Democrats have sponsored bills to expand birth control coverage under the Affordable Care Act and to penalize doctors who refuse to do abortions based on their religious convictions.
“It is encouraging to see pro-life state legislators sponsor solid no exceptions legislation that will protect pre-born babies in the womb. Both Senator Bill Sharer (R) from Farmington and Rep. Yvette Herrell (R) from Alamogordo have tightened up their late term abortion ban bills that DO NOT contain exceptions for rape and incest nor the subjective psychological “health” exception in them. Rep. Rod Montoya (R) from Farmington is sponsoring the Infant Born Alive Protection Act. We fully support these pieces of legislation and encourage other legislators to support these bills that will save the lives of viable babies in our state,” stated Bud Shaver.
Bills to support:
HB 37 Born Alive Infant ProtectionBorn Alive Infant Protection
HB 220 Partial and Late Term Abortion
SB 183 Partial and Late Term Abortion
SB 120 Vital Record Sex Designation (This bill allows a person to change their gender on their birth certificate)
SB 121 No Conversion Therapy (This bill prohibits counselors and clergy from providing therapy asserting that the homosexual lifestyle is contrary to biblical teaching)
Please contact your Senator and Representative by phone and email to tell them where you stand on these various bills.
By Tara Shaver
Albuquerque, NM- The national #DefundPP protest in Albuquerque, New Mexico was a huge success. The event was sponsored locally by Protest ABQ. Close to 300 turned out to protest Planned Parenthood!
Video footage captured on location filmed the protest for over 14 minutes which kept… going and going!
There was a diverse representation of the pro-life community who peacefully and prayerfully came together with a unified voice demanding that Planned Parenthood be defunded and closed down!
Including New Mexico, pro-life activists in 45 states and over 200 locations all across America protested Planned Parenthood, the nations largest abortion provider on February 11, 2017 and called upon Congress and the 45th president, Donald J. Trump to defund the abortion giant. While a majority of Americans are fed up with their hard earned tax dollars being used to prop up an abortion industry that is killing children, as of publishing time I have heard NO reports of pro-lifers rioting, looting, smashing windows, destroying property, setting fires, attacking anyone, or being arrested in ANY of the 200 locations nationwide…
That’s because the pro-life movement is a peaceful and prayerful protest movement!
Most locations reported pro-abortion counter protestors that showed up in support of Planned Parenthood who were vulgar and aggressive. In fact, in Washington D.C. Father Stephen Imbarrato: The Protest Priest reported that the pro-abortion mobs linked arms and attempted to block their pro-life procession at every intersection on their route from the U.S. Supreme Court to a mega Planned Parenthood in D.C. The belligerent pro-aborts pushed and shoved the peaceful pro-lifers but fortunately they had a police escort to keep their procession clear of obstruction!
Reverend Patrick Mahoney published a video capturing the rowdy agitators, “Pro choice demonstrators Blocking our pro-life march and prayer service.”
In stark contrast to violent pro-abortion counter protestors, USA Today reported from the #DefundPP protest in Tempe Arizona,
Lisa Blevins, who organized the anti-Planned Parenthood protesters, said she has protested at the Planned Parenthood Tempe location every weekend for more than a year.
“We’re peaceful, prayful people. We are based on prayer. We respond to them (the other protesters) by praying for and blessing them,” she said. “We listen to them and we stay in peaceful prayer.”
Here are some pictures from #DefundPP in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Thanks to everyone who came out to stand in solidarity with one another for life!
Protest Rally in Albuquerque one of over 200 nationwide calling for the defunding of abortion giant Planned Parenthood
Albuquerque, NM- On February 11, a protest rally will be held at the Planned Parenthood facility at 701 San Mateo Blvd. NE in Albuquerque, from 10-11am. This event is one of over 200 being coordinated nationwide by the #ProtestPP Coalition, calling for Planned Parenthood to be stripped of all federal funding, and for all such funding to be redirected to Federally Qualified Health Centers that do not perform abortions. Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion chain, receives over $420 million from the federal government every year.
Congressional leaders are working to cut funding for the controversial organization as part of the budget reconciliation process, while preserving the assistance this funding is meant to provide for to poor women. Protest Rallies will be held nationwide on February 11 in over 200 cities from coast to coast, supporting the defunding effort and educating the public about Planned Parenthood’s central role in the abortion industry and their long record of unethical activity.
“Planned Parenthood claims that American women rely on them for healthcare, but in fact four out of five women will never set foot in a Planned Parenthood facility,” said Tara Shaver Spokeswoman for Protest ABQ. “Planned Parenthood provides less than 1% of annual pap tests and zero mammograms, but performs 34% of annual abortions in the U.S. They’ve been caught shielding child predators, defrauding Medicaid, and harvesting fetal tissue for profit. This controversial organization does not deserve our tax dollars, it deserves to be closed down.”
Shaver emphasizes that no funding would be taken away from programs that help poor women and families. Every dollar taken from Planned Parenthood would be redirected to Federally Qualified Health Centers that provide a wider range of services and higher standard of care than Planned Parenthood, without doing abortions. “The effort to defund Planned Parenthood has nothing to with taking healthcare away from women. It’s about taking tax dollars away from the nation’s largest abortion chain,” she explained.
#ProtestPP is a coalition of state and national pro-life groups, headed by three national pro-life activist organizations: Citizens for a Pro-Life Society, Created Equal, and the Pro-Life Action League. For the February 11 rally, 40 Days for Life is also serving as a major partner.
For more information please contact: Tara Shaver, shavermissions@gmail.com.
The battle to defund the nation’s largest abortion chain, Planned Parenthood, has turned RED HOT.
Pro-life leaders in Washington are calling for Planned Parenthood to be defunded RIGHT NOW, as the 115th Congress takes office.
But to do it, they need pro-lifers like YOU to show strong grassroots support, all across the country, for stripping Planned Parenthood of their massive taxpayer subsidy.
That’s why Albuquerque is joining the National Protest Rally to Defund Planned Parenthood, taking place at PP centers all over the United States on February 11.
Join tens of thousands of pro-lifers nationwide in building a groundswell of support for the immediate defunding of Planned Parenthood.
Here are all the details:
EVENT: National Defund PP Protest Rally in Albuquerque
WHEN: Saturday, February 11, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
WHERE: Planned Parenthood, 701 San Mateo Blvd. NE Facebook Event Page (Please Join and Share)
Come out February 11, and bring your friends — we need all hands on deck if we’re going to win this historic pro-life battle.
Defunding Planned Parenthood would be the greatest pro-life victory in a generation. Within months, they could be shutting down centers all over the country!
Do your part to win this victory by spreading the word about the big nationwide Defund PP rally and joining your fellow pro-lifers in Albuquerque on February 11!
Albuquerque, NM- Today over 100 people gathered in front of Albuquerque’s Planned Parenthood to stand in solidarity with those marching for life in Washington D.C.This was completely grassroots. It was sponsored by all of us who want to stand up and give a voice to the voiceless.
Many woman today told us that those who vulgarly and hatefully raged against President Trump last week did not represent them. We also heard that many people feel a sense of hope for true and positive change with the new administration that is heeding the voice of “We the people.”
It is a beautiful thing when people spontaneously desire to come together in unity and stand for life, today was just another example of how that is possible in New Mexico.
The next major protest at Planned Parenthood in Albuquerque will be a nationwide call to #DefundPP. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
#DefundPP Protest Albuquerque: Sponsored by ProtestABQ.com
When: Saturday, February 11th Where: 701 San Mateo Blvd. NE Time: 10:00-11:00am Contact: Tara, shavermissions@gmail.com
(Pictured: Pastor Manny’s team- Las Cruces, NM 2014)
By Tara Shaver
Las Cruces, NM- Coalition For Life of Las Cruces announced that Whole Woman’s Health abortion facility has closed its doors! One less abortion facility in New Mexico is a huge victory for the pro-life community and the result of hard work of many activists who worked to expose this place of death over the past two years. Coalition For Life of Las Cruces has done terrific work keeping the pressure on this facility and are witnessing the fruit of their labor.
When Protest ABQ learned that the opening of this facility had been scheduled back in 2014, our friends Pastor Manny and Grace Lardizabal took a team of prayer warriors to Southern New Mexico to cover the city of Las Cruces in prayer. Their team also conducted public outreach in the neighborhoods of Las Cruces and surrounding communities, including Dona Ana, St. Theresa then across the state border to Anthony and El Paso, Texas. Referencing Nehemiah 4:7-8, Grace stated,
“We covered the borders in prayer. Because of them, we made our prayers to our God and set a watch against them day and night.”
The facility took an extra month to get it together and open up shop. Once Whole Woman’s Health did finally open we did an undercover investigation and found them to be operating without a proper city required permit. Like other abortion facilities in this nation, Whole Woman’s Health didn’t think that laws applied to them which raised many red flags very early on. We also uncovered their abortionist was a circuit rider who traveled to Las Cruces from Arizona each week to perform the abortions.
“With all of the mismanagement and an out of state abortionist, in addition to a well mobilized pro-life community, it is no surprise that this facility failed. Ultimately we know that lives will be saved due to this abortion clinic closing and it’s our prayer that we will continue to see more New Mexico abortion facilities close in the future,” stated Bud Shaver.
This is the third abortion clinic to close in New Mexico over the past six years. In 2011 Bruce Ferguson closed his abortion clinic located in Albuquerque, New Mexico according to him for his own…”sanity.”
Also, in 2011, Santa Fe abortionist Lucia Cies retired and closed down the only clinic in Santa Fe offering abortions. Santa Fe remained abortion free until we uncovered that nurse practitioner, Vivianne Clark working for Planned Parenthood of Santa Fe was being reimbursed for abortions that she was doing illegally. Protest ABQ filed a complaint with the New Mexico nursing board, that compliant is still pending.
In 2014, the University of New Mexico relocated their free-standing abortion clinic, according to them, “Because we are being protested!” Peaceful protests and having an active presence at abortion killing centers does close them down and when abortion facilities do close, lives are saved.
Albuquerque, NM- Eight years ago Tara and I joined a group of peaceful pro-life protesters in Washington D.C. at the crack of dawn onto the inauguration route of newly elected President, Barack Obama. In fact we (pro-lifers) were the very first presence allowed onto his inauguration route that day. Reverend Patrick Mahoney led the way through the check points with his secret service contacts amidst “boo’s” from the massive crowds. We were protesting at an inauguration before it was a trendy thing to do but what did our banners say?
“Mr. President, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’” ~Martin Luther King Jr.
We weren’t violent or hateful though, in fact, we came in just the opposite spirit, we came peacefully and prayerfully to our nation’s capital.
That inauguration ushered in the most radical pro-abortion administration in the history of America. We also had signs and trucks driving around the city stating and protesting,
(2007 – Bud being illegally arrested in Los Angeles, CA)
Today, January 20, 2017, Donald J. Trump was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States of America and what a difference 8 years makes. With a brand new administration comes a new opportunity for hope! As Christians we are called to pray for our leaders. While we have offered countless prayers for our former president, Barack Obama, we have a glimpse at our prayers now being answered. Most Christians fail to realize that we are told what to specifically pray for regarding our leaders. Let’s look at 1 Timothy 2: 1-2 …
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people, for kings and all those in authority…
We are told specifically what to pray for…
“That we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”
While we will continue to hold our leaders, including Donald J. Trump and his administration accountable, our prayer is that our new president, will usher in a new season not just for our family, who is weary from battle, but also usher in a new season for our country. Vice President Mike Pence took his oath of office and placed his hand upon this verse in 2 Chronicles:
“If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
We are weary from a decade of being at war, our prayer is that God hears Vice President, Mike Pence’s prayer and our prayer, that he will heal our land and that we can all live quietly and at peace, in all godliness and holiness.
(2007-2017) From Friendship Evangelists to Notorious Pro-Life Activists: Our battle in the trenches began a decade ago back in 2007…
Three Major Articles Documenting our pro-life efforts:
2008- 2009: Full-time Anti-Abortion Activists with Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust Los Angeles California
Starting in Washington D.C. at George Mason University after Barack Obama’s Inauguration, we visited over 180 college and high school campuses all across the country educating our peers with the truth about abortion. We were invading Liberal “Safe-Spaces” before it was cool!
Albuquerque, NM- This week thousands will gather in Santa Fe to attend a pro-life Mass celebrated by the three bishops of New Mexico followed by a procession to the Roundhouse where a rally will be held to mourn another year of legalized pre-born child killing in this country.
This annual event is sponsored by the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops and all are welcome and encouraged to attend.
While New Mexico faces many obstacles in the overall effort to protect human life, a major concern this 2017 session is the potential introduction of a physician assisted death bill into the legislature. State Representative Bill McCamley (D-Las Cruces) told the Albuquerque Journal that he plans to introduce such a bill this session.
In June of last year the New Mexico Supreme Court upheld New Mexico’s Assisted Suicide Act, which prohibits deliberately helping another person take his or her own life and is considered a fourth degree felony.
This law was challenged in 2014 by none other than two physicians at… the University of New Mexico Hospital. These two physicians, in addition to a cancer patient in Santa Fe (whose cancer is now in remission as of June 2016) had apparently challenged the law in order to allow physicians the ability to kill their patients but evade being held responsible under New Mexico law.
Earlier this month in “The Great Gift of Life” written by New Mexico Archbishop John C. Wester he states, “those that support doctor-assisted suicide use names like ‘death with dignity,’ ‘aid in dying,’ or ‘compassion in choices,’ because they mistakenly believe that allowing someone to end their life on their own is a dignified action. However, there is no dignity or compassion in assisted suicide.”
In addition the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement regarding the New Mexico Supreme Courts decision stating in part, “In the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis calls us to be deliberate in our acts of kindness and love. One of the greatest ways to love is to journey with another’s suffering and pain. Here, we make a call for a consistent ethic of life.”
Protest ABQ stands with the Bishops of New Mexico in affirming life from conception until natural death and oppose any effort by New Mexico legislators to further push this agenda of physician assisted suicide.
“It has always been discouraging to see so many Catholic legislators vote for death and against their faith. If an assisted suicide bill is proposed this session, it is an opportunity for Catholic legislators to show the faithful that they truly respect life and Catholic teaching more than their political agendas,” stated Fr. Imbarrato: The Protest Priest, Priests for Life.
During this session it will be interesting to see if radically pro-abortion Catholic legislators like Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino, Sen. Michael Padilla, Sen. Bill O’Neill, and Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero, will continue to defy their faith and the bishops of New Mexico by going a step further in their rebellion and support physician assisted suicide legislation in 2017.
Noon Mass at The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi
231 Cathedral Pl, Santa Fe, NM 87501 1:30pm: Procession from Basilica to Roundhouse 2:00pm: Rally at Roundhouse and Visiting Legislators
(Felicia and healthy baby Jonah!)
