17 Protesters, Including Missouri Director of Planned Parenthood, Arrested Outside Governor's Office

As Missouri awaits a decision on whether its last abortion clinic will remain open, protests have resulted in over a dozen arrests, including M’Evie Mead, Missouri Director of Planned Parenthood.

On May 30, protesters gathered in downtown St. Louis, Missouri as a judge deliberates whether or not Planned Parenthood, which is the last clinic providing abortion services in the state of Missouri, will remain open. Protesters marched to Governor Mike Parson’s office where 17 were arrested after staging a sit-in inside the Wainwright building, where Parson’s office is located. According to the Riverfront Times, one of those arrested was Mead along with St. Louis Alderwoman Megan Ellyia Green.

On May 29, Parson claimed that the health department uncovered “numerous violations of state laws and regulations” at Planned Parenthood’s St. Louis, Missouri clinic in March.

Planned Parenthood counters that the audit included unreasonable demands, but the clinic maintains it has “bent over backwards” to comply with many of those demands. On May 30, Planned Parenthood asked that the judge issue a temporary restraining order that would allow the clinic to continue to operate even as the state stalls on its license renewal. The clinic’s license is set to expire June 1, and a judge is expected to make a ruling tomorrow.

If Planned Parenthood’s license is not renewed, Missouri will become the first state with no access to abortion services since 1974.