By Blake Deshazo

The Selma Times-Journal

Multiple national pro-life organizations and local activists are calling for an investigation into the operations of what they believe to be an unlicensed abortion clinic in Selma.

Pro-life activists gathered Wednesday outside the Central Alabama Women’s Clinic to demand action.

“We are calling on the state of Alabama. We are calling on the medical board to do their job and shut this center down,” said Catherine Davis with the Black Pro-Life Coalition.

The Life Legal Defense Foundation alleges the center is performing more abortions per month than a non-licensed center is allowed.

According to the foundation, under Alabama law a license is required for a clinic if more than nine abortions are performed in a month.

The Life Legal Defense Foundation’s own investigation into the clinic started more than eight months ago, according to the Rev. Terry Gensemer with the Charismatic Episcopal Church for Life.

“We began in July of last year to give evidence to the Alabama Department of Public Health about what was going on at this clinic,” Gensemer said. “We have asked them on several occasions to move forward with their investigation, and they have really dragged their feet.”

Gensemer said the ADPH has been contacted multiple times, but they were given a “no comment” response.

When asked about an investigation into the clinic Wednesday afternoon, the ADPH confirmed there is an open investigation into the Central Alabama Women’s Clinic.

“We are aware of the allegations that Life Legal Defense Foundation and others are [making] and have made in regard to the Central Alabama Women’s Clinic,” said Brian Hale, deputy general counsel of the ADPH. “We have been participating in an investigation of those allegations.”

In a letter sent to the ADPH in July, the Life Legal Defense Foundation stated more than 10 appointments for abortions were scheduled between July 1, 2014 and July 22, 2014.

The letter included an audio file of a call made during that time frame to schedule an appointment. The letter also requested the ADPH “conduct a thorough investigation” into the alleged illegal operations.

Davis said the Black Pro-Life Coalition and other pro-life organizations will not stop until something is done about the clinic.

“We’re not going away until this gets answered, until it gets resolved,” Davis said. “We are demanding that the state of Alabama do its job.”

When attempts were made to reach the Central Alabama Women’s Clinic, no one was available to comment on the allegations and investigation.