Petitions Turned In For State Lawmaker Who Blamed Planned Parenthood In Deadly Shooting
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4)- Petitions have been turned in for a state lawmaker who blamed Planned Parenthood for the deadly shooting at a Colorado Springs clinic last November. Organizers of the movement want Joann Windholz to resign.
Windholz, a Republican representing Colorado Springs, released a statement on Facebook after the November 2015 shooting reading "The true instigator of all violence at Planned Parenthood is the organization itself."
Three people were killed and nine others wounded in the attack. Robert Dear has been arrested and charged in the shooting.
Some 63,000 people signed the online petition calling for her resignation.
"I think it is the height of irresponsibility for a public official like Joann Windholz to come out immediately after a tragedy like this and say Planned Parenthood is the culprit in having their clinic shot up. That's the very worst kind of victim blaming," said petitioner Chris Burley.
Windholz released a statement on Tuesday, "I never once blamed the victims and as a supporter of life I am deeply saddened by the loss of any life."