Planned Parenthood Donations in Mike Pence’s Name Now Up to 50,000 Since the Election

Julie Mazziotta
Updated

The number of donations to Planned Parenthood in Vice President-Elect Mike Pence‘s name has more than doubled in the last six days.

Planned Parenthood confirms to PEOPLE that they’ve now received 50,000 individual donations in the Indiana governor’s name, representing 25 percent of the 200,000 donations that came in since the election on Nov. 8.

“We’ve seen an unprecedented outpouring of support, with more than 200,000 people donating in the week following the election — a quarter of whom pledged to be monthly supporters, recognizing the long-term work that is needed,” Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood, said in a statement shared with PEOPLE. “Tens of thousands more are pledging to make sure access to health care is protected. We are so grateful to this community across the country, and we will never stop fighting for them.”

“The truth is that the majority of Americans, including Trump’s own voters, support access to health care at Planned Parenthood and do not want to see women lose access to safe, legal abortion. We’ve stood defiant in the face of opposition for the last 100 years. We will never back down, and we will never stop providing the care our patients need. These doors stay open, no matter what.”

Back on Nov. 16, the non-profit organization reported a total of 20,000 contributions in honor of Pence.

The idea to send donations to Planned Parenthood in his name went viral on social media as a response to Pence and Donald Trump’s election win. Pence has fought throughout his political career to defund the organization.

Pence first introduced a bill to eliminate their funding as a member of Congress in 2007. The legislation did not pass, but he continued to fight Planned Parenthood because the organization provides abortions.

“If Planned Parenthood wants to be involved in providing counseling services and HIV testing, they ought not be in the business of providing abortions,” Pence told Politico in 2011. “As long as they aspire to do that, I’ll be after them.”

With every donation to Planned Parenthood in his name, Pence’s office receives a letter thanking him for his support.