‘Abortion is just demonic’: Ex-Planned Parenthood director Abby Johnson responds to ‘evil’ amid Texas abortion law battle

By Billy Hallowell, Contributor Tuesday, September 07, 2021

People gather for a reproductive rights rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall on September 01, 2021, in Downtown Brooklyn in New York City. NOW-NYC and Planned Parenthood of Greater New York Action Fund organized a rally for reproductive rights after a Texas law that has been dubbed the 'Heartbeat Bill' went into effect. The law ends access to abortion after six weeks of pregnancy and would allow anyone to sue abortion providers and “aiders and abetters” in civil court. Abortion rights activists have asked the Supreme Court to block the law, but as of Wednesday morning the court has allowed the law to go into effect. In May, Supreme Court justices agreed to review a Mississippi case on the state's ban on abortion procedures after 15 weeks of pregnancy, a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark decision that legalized abortion nationwide. A ruling on that case is expected in 2022. — People gather for a reproductive rights rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall on September 01, 2021, in Downtown Brooklyn in New York City. NOW-NYC and Planned Parenthood of Greater New York Action Fund organized a rally for reproductive rights after a Texas law that has been dubbed the "Heartbeat Bill" went into effect. The law ends access to abortion after six weeks of pregnancy and would allow anyone to sue abortion providers and “aiders and abetters” in civil court. Abortion rights activists have asked the Supreme Court to block the law, but as of Wednesday morning the court has allowed the law to go into effect. In May, Supreme Court justices agreed to review a Mississippi case on the state's ban on abortion procedures after 15 weeks of pregnancy, a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark decision that legalized abortion nationwide. A ruling on that case is expected in 2022. | Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Ex-Planned Parenthood clinic director Abby Johnson called abortion “demonic” in a recent episode of her “Politely Rude” podcast as she unveiled her unequivocal reaction to Texas’ controversial new heartbeat law.

Johnson, who is an outspoken and celebrated pro-life activist, started her show by expressing her elation over the Texas law, which bans most abortions around the six-week gestational period when cardiac activity can be detected.

SUBSCRIBE: LISTEN TO ABBY JOHNSON’S POLITELY RUDE PODCAST ON EDIFI

“Today, babies with a detectable heartbeat in the womb must be protected,” Johnson said. “And that just thrills me to bits. … I’m just so excited.”

The outspoken pro-life icon was particularly disturbed by “sick” reports that some clinics were performing abortions up until 11:59 p.m. before the new law took effect on Sept. 1.

“How … gross that you’re like, ‘Gotta kill babies up until that last second,’” she said. “That’s how you know that abortion is just demonic. That’s how you know that we’re just dealing with evil here — that there’s like just, ‘Gotta kill them right up until the last second.’”

Hear Johnson’s full and unfettered reaction to the Texas abortion law:

Johnson credited the heartbeat bill with helping eliminate “85 to 95 percent of abortions in the state of Texas,” and said it's her goal to make abortion harder to attain.

“I want to make it super hard because I want your baby to live,” she said. “I don’t want you to live a lifetime of regret because of a decision that you made in haste … a decision that you made in crisis.”

Johnson said she has met many thousands of women who have come up to her at events to recount their regret over having an abortion.

“Women are living with lifelong regret because of these hasty decisions that they make inside of these abortion facilities each and every day,” she said.

Listen to Johnson’s full reaction to the Texas abortion law here.