May 21, 2012
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- A reversal for Susan G. Komen for the Cure on its stand on Planned Parenthood. The charity will commit giving the group a nearly $700,000 grant after all. Tuesday Komen disqualified Planned Parenthood from applying for future grants for breast cancer screenings.
When Komen abandoned Planned Parenthood, the internet exploded.
Many of the messages negative, from people saying they would no longer donate to events like "Race for the Cure."
Friday, Komen apologized for making Americans question it's commitment to women's health.
As for Planned Parenthood, its just happy to have the funding back.
"We were so excited and so grateful that they restructured their grant making criteria so that we're still eligable to receive grants," said Planned Parenthood of Middle and East Tennessee's External Affairs Coordinator, Tory Mills.
Grants that have made Susan G. Komen for the Cure one of Planned Parenthood's long term partners.
"We're just excited that they've rethought this, because both of our bottom lines is the health of American women," Mills continued.
But the organization's stand on abortion is why people like Cecil Clark protest outside Knoxville's Cherry Street location every Friday.
"Planned Parenthood is one of the biggest abortion providers in the United States. I think they [Komen] should not be tied with an organization that kills babies," Clark said.
But employees inside said, the protestors don't bother them.
"They've got their right to speak and we're in here doing our work. We are providing health care to millions of women every year. That is our focus and we stay focused on that," Mills said.
People in Knoxville are torn on the controversial issue.
"I don't think politics or religion should get into it. I think it should be the woman's opinion," said Charles Sapp.
Linda Criswell countered "It's still totally wrong. Maybe they need to focus in some other direction."
