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WASHINGTON (AP) — A black conservative pastors group says a bust of Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger in the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery is more offensive than the Confederate flag and should be removed.
Sanger was a pioneer of the birth-control movement. She also supported eugenics, an effort to discourage reproduction by groups with undesirable traits.
Bishop E.W. Jackson of Ministers Taking a Stand says Sanger specifically sought to limit the black population, an accusation for which the evidence is contested.
But at a news conference outside the museum, Jackson said what he believes is a high incidence of abortion among blacks is evidence of a "disparate impact" suggesting racism.
Portrait Gallery spokeswoman Bethany Bentley said Wednesday that Sanger's bust will not be removed and that the museum displays images of important Americans, including some with objectionable qualities.
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272-w-35-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Bishop E.W. Jackson, president, Ministers Taking a Stand)--A coalition of black pastors says a bust of Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger in the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery is more offensive than the Confederate flag and should be removed. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (27 Aug 2015)
<<CUT *272 (08/27/15)££ 00:35
273-a-14-(Bishop E.W. Jackson, president, Ministers Taking a Stand, at news conference)-"National Portrait Gallery (applause fades)"-Bishop E.W. Jackson, president of Ministers Taking a Stand, says thousands of people want a bust of the founder of Planned Parenthood removed from a museum exhibit honoring great Americans. (27 Aug 2015)
<<CUT *273 (08/27/15)££ 00:14 "National Portrait Gallery (applause fades)"
274-a-11-(The Reverend Dean Nelson, chairman, Frederick Douglass Foundation, at news conference)-"in our communities (applause fades)"-The Reverend Dean Nelson, chairman of the Frederick Douglass Foundation, says black communities have a higher incidence of abortion. (27 Aug 2015)
<<CUT *274 (08/27/15)££ 00:11 "in our communities (applause fades)"
275-a-09-(Patrina Mosley, youth coordinator, Concerned Women for America, at news conference)-"racism and genocide"-Patrina Mosley, youth coordinator of Concerned Women for America, says the National Portrait Gallery should remove a bust that many blacks find offensive. (27 Aug 2015)
<<CUT *275 (08/27/15)££ 00:09 "racism and genocide"
276-r-13-(Members of Ministers Taking a Stand, chanting "You must remove the bust")--Members of Ministers Taking a Stand chanting "You must remove the bust." (27 Aug 2015)
<<CUT *276 (08/27/15)££ 00:13
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