Susan G. Komen announced this week that they would no longer be providing funds to Planned Parenthood for breast cancer screenings. This decision by Komen is not based on any scientific evidence, but instead on their decision to make a political statement on the extremely divisive issue of a woman's right to choose.

We believe that the decision by Susan G. Komen's executive staff to allow the organization to be used as a political tool disregards the intentions by millions of individuals who donate to the organization each year with the intent to help fund research and health services that will fight breast cancer.

In particular, the decision by Susan G. Komen to defund Planned Parenthood's breast cancer screenings hurts many of the most vulnerable to breast cancer in our society. Each year over 27,000 African American women are diagnosed with breast cancer. The type of breast cancer that African American women are diagnosed with is usually the more “aggressive” form that provides for a lesser chance of survival. That is why that although African American women are less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than other women, they are more likely to die from it.

At the same time African American women and women who are in the lower economic demographic are less likely to have health insurance and therefore access to healthcare services such as breast cancer screenings. That is why the decision by Susan G. Komen to cut funding to Planned Parenthood is so devastating. Komen’s decision will ensure that more African American and economically disadvantaged women will not receive the suggested screenings and by the time they are diagnosed they will face an outcome that will surely lead to death.

We strongly believe that if Ford, New Balance and Walgreens truly care about the women who have or will face breast cancer that they will reconsider their ongoing financial support for Susan G. Komen. We ask that each of you redirect your financial support to other established breast cancer research and advocacy organizations that will stay true to their purpose and help us find a cure for this horrible disease.

We look forward to hearing back from Ford, New Balance and Walgreens about their commitment to fighting breast cancer. We know that each of you understands that this fight against breast cancer cannot be won if we deny any woman access to basic and essential healthcare services such as breast cancer screenings.