Anti-abortion activists gathered in front of the Planned Parenthood building on North Wilkinson Street carrying signs with messages such as "Abortion is murder," and calling for an end to public funding of the Planned Parenthood program.
Organizer Paul Coudron, executive director of Dayton Right to Life, said there are 12 other "women's health organizations" in Montgomery County that receive public funding.
"By defunding Planned Parenthood, we're not suggesting defunding women's health," Coudron said.
Coudron said he feels the "tide is changing" in favor of the anti-abortion view, citing the election of President Donald Trump and his administration appointments and for the Supreme Court.
A short time after that rally, an estimated 130 people who are in favor of Planned Parenthood gathered outside Courthouse Square, some carrying signs while live music was performed.
Joy Schwab, of the Dayton Women's Rights Alliance, said the fight for women's rights is intensifying and more than ever there's a need to mobilize supporters.
"We want to show that the majority of people support Planned Parenthood,” Schwab said. “Planned Parenthood has done more to prevent unwanted pregnancies and thus prevent abortions than all of the ant-choice groups put together.”
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