Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood fully reopens

Planned Parenthood workers and members of the community celebrated the clinic’s full reopening on Sunday, five months after a shooting shut it down.

Three people were killed and dozens were injured at the clinic on November 27. The facility opened a portion of the facility in February and reopened the entire clinic Sunday.

On Sunday, dozens attended a ceremony in the facility’s parking lot supporting the cause.

“This has been a long time coming. It’s been an incredibly difficult time for our staff. We’ve seen leadership and a beautiful outpouring from our community and we could not be more proud to be in this moment right now,” said Whitney Phillips with Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains.

“Our motto is ‘these doors stay open’ and that is certainly the motto here in Colorado Springs,” added Cecile Richards, Planned Parenthood president.

“People respect and love and admire Planned Parenthood. If you haven’t been, you know somebody who has been helped by Planned Parenthood. We felt a loyalty and a thankfulness (during this process)… and we give that back to the community that’s embraced us.”

Some say, however, the doors shouldn’t be open. Protesters lined Centennial Boulevard holding signs against the reopening.

“It’s just not a good thing. People don’t understand the truth of what they stand for,” said Joseph Martone, a pro-life advocate.

Martone added, “They’re causing more harm than good.”

Planned Parenthood will resume full services Monday morning at 9 a.m.

Robert Dear admits to targeting the clinic and shooting three people.

On Thursday, two doctors told a judge that Dear is not competent to stand trial. A judge did not make a decision on Thursday and set the next hearing for May 10.