Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D) has issued a proclamation making March 10 “Abortion Provider Appreciation Day,” according to local media reports.
The move on Wednesday comes exactly 27 years after the death of Dr. David Gunn, an abortion provider who was fatally shot by a man outside his clinic in Florida in 1993. At the time, The Washington Post reported that the man allegedly yelled, “Don’t kill any more babies,” before shooting the doctor.
{mosads}According to Planned Parenthood, the holiday was first celebrated in 1996 in honor of Gunn.
In a statement to CBS Minnesota on Tuesday, Frey said, “Every day, abortion providers like Whole Woman’s Health deliver high quality care in the face of harassment and threats to abortion access at the federal and local levels.”
“I’m proud to recognize today as Abortion Provider Appreciation Day to celebrate Whole Woman’s Health as an essential part of our community,” he continued.
According to City Pages, Whole Woman’s Health is one of five abortion providers in Minneapolis.
The proclamation comes several days after the Supreme Court heard arguments in June Medical Services v. Russo, a case brought by abortion clinics and doctors in Louisiana who are suing on behalf of their patients to challenge a state law that seeks to require abortion providers to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.