Protesters stood on the steps of Prince George’s only movie theatre this morning (July 27) as people arrived to attend a private screening of the film Unplanned.
The movie is based on the true story of Abby Johnson, a Planned Parenthood clinic director in Texas who becomes an anti-abortion speaker.
“We have organized this rally just to be the pro-choice voice at this anti-choice event and be there to support women in all their choices,” says Deidra Yeomans, who organized the protest at the July 27, 10 a.m. Famous Players' screening of Unplanned.
The film has raised a nationwide debate over reproductive rights as it’s being shown in more than 56 Cineplex, Landmark and independent theatres across the country.
The Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada has called the film "a dangerous piece of anti-abortion propaganda" that "could incite fanatics to commit acts of harassment or violence against clinics or doctors."
Cineplex CEO Ellis Jacob, however, stands by the theatre's decision to show the film.
“The decision to move forward with screenings of this particular film was a complicated one and it was not made easily or lightly. But as leader of Canada’s largest film exhibition company, I am confident that it was the right decision for us, for you and for our country,” says Jacob in a statement.
“In this instance, many of us will have to set aside our own personal beliefs and remember that living in a country that censors content, opinions, and points of view because they are different from our own is not a country that any of us would want to live in.”
Yeomans says that her suggestion to organize a protest in response to the Prince George screening was at first a bit of a joke, but the idea quickly snowballed when she had such a positive reaction from the community.
“We just want to be there to say 'Hey we support you in whatever decisions you want to make,'” says Yeomans. “We also want to be here to give the correct medical information, so [the protest] is mostly about the fact-checking and the supportiveness towards women.”
The Prince George screening of Unplanned was so popular that the initial showing was sold-out, and organizers have planned a second screening to take place Saturday, Aug. 17 at 10 a.m.
Local screening organizer Madison Kordyban tells PrinceGeorgeMatters that a waiting list had to be created because of the level of interest in the film.
PrinceGeorgeMatters has also reached out to Unplanned Prince George and Advokate Life for comment.
- with files from Kyle Balzer and The Canadian Press.
