Richmond, Va., Dec 4, 2017 / 13:53 pm
A 15-year-old student was taken to the hospital after a woman punched her in the face outside of a Planned Parenthood in Roanoke, Virginia on Saturday morning.
The student, Purity Thomas, is a high school leader with Students for Life of America and was "peacefully sidewalk counseling" with a small group of other leaders outside of Planned Parenthood on Saturday morning when a woman sparked the altercation, the group said in a statement.
During sidewalk counseling, Students for Life leaders offer women support, encouragement and resources for pregnancy care instead of abortion.
On Saturday, the students had congregated in a grassy area outside of the abortion clinic where volunteers typically meet. Because that Planned Parenthood location performs abortions on Saturday, pro-life leaders usually offer counseling, prayer and peaceful protest outside of that location on a weekly basis.