Sandra Bland (Courtesy Photo)

(Salon) – Last week, the Center for Medical Progress released a nine-minute video clip, followed by another video clip a few days later, which purport to show that Planned Parenthood illegally sells tissue from aborted fetuses. Of course, it does not show that. Instead, the heavily edited clips show representatives of a fabricated medical research company in conversation with Planned Parenthood representatives about purchasing legally obtained fetal tissue for research. The unedited versions of the videos show both reps asserting that Planned Parenthood is not in the business of making money from these sales, and that they charge for the tissue to offset the costs they incur in the process of providing the tissue that goes on to enable life-saving medical research.

This is another in a long series of disingenuous attacks on Planned Parenthood, which offers health care services, including abortion, to millions of people each year. This “investigation” by the right-wing, anti-choice Center for Medical Progress came with a singular goal: destroy Planned Parenthood and make it impossible for people around the country to access abortion care. Republicans have jumped on this fabricated opportunity as an excuse to push for even more abortion restrictions.

In the wake of these attacks, the feminist community sprang to action. Statements in support of Planned Parenthood began showing up on social media, and people were changing their photos to include an “#StandWithPP” image over their faces. In my social media community, this meant white women, women of color and LGBT folks alike were all asserting that they saw straight through this unfounded attack and stood in solidarity with Planned Parenthood.

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