The Richmond City Council is making headlines for unanimously agreeing to sell the former Brook Hill School to the Virginia League of Planned Parenthood (VLPP) for a symbolic $10. The abortion provider plans to demolish the old school and erect a cutting-edge 10,000-square-foot facility.
Context and Implications
In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, abortion access has faced significant restrictions in nearby states such as West Virginia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Consequently, the Old Dominion has become a regional destination for abortion services, witnessing a dramatic surge in demand.
“To have these options and opportunities in the city of Richmond puts us in a class of our own,” said Mayor Levar Stoney (D).
Rising Demand for Abortion Services
Statewide data underscores this trend: since 2020, Virginia has experienced nearly an 85% increase in clinician-provided abortions, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Out-of-state clients historically comprised 6% of Planned Parenthood Virginia’s patients, a number that remained consistent from 1980 to 2022. Since the abolition of Roe, that number has increased to 30%.
Despite the universal support of the city council, local activists have decidedly mixed views, as Richmond’s WRIC 8News reports:
VLPP Communications Director Rae Pickett said the need for the facility is urgent.
“When people access abortion care, sometimes they are traveling long distances and they might bring their children with them,” said Pickett. “So our health centers are able to identify things nearby, like libraries or playgrounds for folks to be able to accommodate.”
The Family Foundation president Victoria Cobb said the facility isn’t needed.
“The needs of the city, particularly in this area, are great — homelessness, addiction, education,” Cobb said. “There are so many needs and there are so many entities trying to meet those needs that could have done that more effectively in that property location.”
Regardless, VLPP actively promotes itself as a sanctuary for women seeking abortions from states with pro-life laws. On its website, it describes the soon-to-be-built facility as necessary to meet the growing demand and provide essential health services to a broader community.
READ NEXT: New Hoax Drops: Newsweek Makes Absolutely Shameful Trump Claim