Margaret Sanger, Eugenics and Planned Parenthood 
By Mary Beerworth

Planned Parenthood’s founder, Margaret Sanger, was a wildly controversial figure in American history and a fierce advocate of eugenics and population control. The organization Sanger founded is now the largest single provider of abortions in the State of Vermont, the United States of America and in the world. 

Thanks to Sanger and those who embraced her politics and her activism, a movement took hold in the U.S. that ultimately resulted in government-backed, forced sterilization programs. The eugenics projects that ran unfettered in the early 1920’s here in Vermont targeted "certain people" for involuntary sterilization and effectively guaranteed that untold numbers of Vermonters would never bear children. That sad chapter in both our state and national history has been largely glossed over. Yet it is a chapter we ignore at our own peril because those forces who desire to pass laws to legalize the assisted killing of the elderly, the ill, and the disabled spring from the same mindset – the mindset that promoted the "eugenics projects," that promotes "population control," abortion, and ultimately, euthanasia - and it is important for pro-lifers to better understand what drives these negative forces. 

In March of 2007, physician assisted suicide supporters were dealt a blow when the legislation to legalize physician-assisted suicide died on a roll call vote in the Vermont House 82-63. But, those who advocate for abortion rights, population control, assisted suicide, the elimination of the disabled, and the sterilization of "certain people" have not given up and gone away.

Of interest to pro-life Vermonters is the fact that the pro-assisted suicide organization, Death Dignity of Vermont, recently handed control of the organization to Monica Knorr of Manchester. Monica Knorr and her husband, Steven Sinding, recently retired to Vermont after Sinding finished serving his term as Director General of the London-based International Planned Parenthood Federation. Sinding and Knorr have extensive background in population control issues. According to the New York Times (July 2002) in an interview with the couple as they were packing to leave for London, Sinding indicated he wanted to rekindle the fire of the Federation's founders in 1952, among them "family-planning" pioneers like Margaret Sanger. "When it comes to today's most difficult and controversial issues, I'm determined to move the International Planned Parenthood Federation back to the brave and angry attitude of its pioneers," he said.

Also of interest to pro-lifers is that Planned Parenthood of Northern New England continues to promote the Sanger legacy despite the historical evidence that Sanger promoted dangerous public policies, led a scandalous personal life (even by today’s standards) and was even wanted by the authorities. This year, PPNNE has announced the formation of the "Sanger Society." (Perhaps the new "Sanger Society" is being developed as part of an effort to "bring back the spirit of Margaret Sanger.") In any case, a large donation entitles you to the dubious honor of becoming an official member of the PPNNE Sanger Society. 

To better understand the forces against the sanctity of human life in our state, Vermont Right to Life has booked Angela Franks as the featured guest speaker for the 2008 Rally for Life in Montpelier. Franks is the author of Margaret Sanger’s Eugenic Legacy: The Control of Female Fertility. Ms. Franks will provide a lively and historical presentation of the real Margaret Sanger and a "behind the scenes" look at the real goals of Planned Parenthood. 

For more information check www.vrlc.net and www.angelafranks.com
 

Mary Beerworth is the Executive Director of the Vermont Right to Life www.vrlc.net