Links Fuel Anti-Abortion Groups’ Girl Scout Cookie Boycott

Some anti-abortion organizations have launched a drive to boycott Girl Scout cookies over what they contend is the national youth group’s support for abortion-rights advocates, the Associated Press reports.

The organizations cite Twitter and Facebook posts in which Girl Scouts of the USA asked for nominees for 2013 woman of the year and linked to articles featuring Texas legislator Wendy Davis, who shot to national fame last year with an abortion-rights filibuster, and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, who is also pro-choice.

Girls Scouts spokeswoman Kelly Parisi said the organization does not endorse politicians or take stands on political issues and that the posts aimed to encourage people to get involved in discussions about women in the news.

“It’s very clear that they are not citing any pro-life leaders with any praise, even though their official stand is they are not taking any position on abortion,” said John Pisciotta, director of Pro-Life Waco in Texas and an organizer of the so-called CookieCott, which is being promoted by conservative activists and anti-abortion groups in other states.

Read a Chronicle of Philanthropy article about conservative groups’ “culture war” criticism of the Girl Scouts.