Planned Parenthood event postponed Saturday following security threat

A security threat led organizers to postpone a Planned Parenthood fundraising event Saturday in the Raleigh Rose Garden.

Planned Parenthood South Atlantic had planned to hold a concert and rally Saturday afternoon called Bands not Bans, an event organized in the wake of last month’s Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

The outdoor nature of the Rose Garden and a threat led to the postponement, said Planned Parenthood South Atlantic spokesperson Molly Rivera.

“This decision was made out of an abundance of caution, given where the original venue (Raleigh Rose Garden) is,” Rivera said. “We’re postponing so we could find a venue that was more secure.”

Rivera said the event, which included four bands and a rally, would be rescheduled for late July or early August.

Rivera declined to discuss the specifics of the threat that led to the postponement. She said the nature of the threat was shared with Planned Parenthood’s national office and security team and that the Raleigh Police Department had been alerted.

“Part of (Planned Parenthood’s) security protocol is to not give details of the threats we receive,” Rivera said.

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a 49-year precedent protecting abortion rights nationally. The decision has led to demonstrations and protests across the country from abortion rights groups and activists.

Planned Parenthood is often associated with abortion access and advocacy. Rivera said the South Atlantic district, which includes the Carolinas, West Virginia and Virginia, has seen an increase in anti-abortion messages since the Supreme Court decision.

“We have seen an escalation from people who would stop abortion access at Planned Parenthood and at other abortion providers,” Rivera said. “It’s a challenging time. The bottom line is these threats against abortion and health care harm everyone.”

The Raleigh Police Department confirmed it is investigating the threat made ahead of Saturday’s event.

“The Raleigh Police Department takes all threats seriously and is currently investigating the potential threat made to Planned Parenthood,” said RPD Lt. Jason Borneo. “The investigation is ongoing and we do not have any additional details to release at this time.”