The Daily Hatch

PHOTO BY STATON BREIDENTHAL

Marchers arrive at the state Capitol on Sunday after beginning the Arkansas March for Life in downtown Little Rock

As in the past, the pr0-life March in Little Rock had at least twenty times the people in attendance that the pr0-abortion march did the previous day. In fact, last year Channel 16 had a very distorted news story that tried to imply that both crowds were about the same size.

Below is the article from the Arkansas Democrat Gazette:

LITTLE ROCK — As an instrumental version of “Amazing Grace” blared over loudspeakers on the Capitol steps Sunday afternoon, a banner with the words, “America God is Watching” emerged from the fog, followed by a crowd of abortion opponents.

Despite the cold, misty weather, approximately 2,000 people gathered in downtown Little Rock for the 34th annual March for Life.

“They’re humans, and people are always talking about murdering children, and it’s the same thing,” said 11-year-old Noah Harrison of Pine Bluff, who marched with his mother, Sandy Harrison, and two of his six siblings.

The event drew prominent religious leaders, such as Bishop Anthony Taylor of the Catholic Diocese of Little Rock, and Republican leaders, including U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin, state Rep. Donna Hutchinson of Benton and state Sen. Eddie Joe Williams of Lonoke.

The walk stretched about 13 blocks and ended at the state Capitol. The Rev. Paul Roberts, pastor of East Union Missionary Baptist Church in Hensley, was among those who spoke. “We pray today would be the beginning of change … we recognize the importance of protecting the most innocent.”

Keynote speakers for the event were Griffin and Benton resident Jean Garton, author of the book, Who Broke the Baby? What the Abortion Slogans Really Mean. Garton, who has spoken against abortion since the 1970s, quoted Martin Luther King Jr.: “There is nothing more powerful to dramatize a social evil than the tramp, tramp of marching feet.”

“Abortion is an inhumane, barbaric attack against a human being,” Garton said to the crowd. “The right to choose is a politically correct way to cover up torture, violence and death.”

Garton emphasized that life begins at conception. “Every guy who’s ever bought a package of condoms knows when life begins,” she quipped.

The annual march took place on the 39-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion. Arkansas’ second abortion-rights Rally for Reproductive Justice on Saturday drew about 100 people. At the rally, speaker Loretta Ross had several comments for antiabortion protesters.

“I mean, will these people get a life and stop trying to take over mine?” she said.

Rose Mimms, executive director of Arkansas Right to Life – which sponsored Sunday’s march – said, “What about the life of the unborn child?”

“We don’t say women don’t have a right to their reproductive decisions … adoption is a loving option,” Mimms said. “Rape and incest, they always bring those up, and those are tragic, tragic situations, but that child has to pay for it with his life. The child is totally innocent … there’s no justice in abortion.”

No protesters were present at Sunday’s event, and police reported no disturbances.

John Emmons of Hot Springs Village, whose sign said, in part, “Save our children!!! Stop Abortion Now,” said he has participated in the march for about 10 to 12 years.

“I would hope it would wake more people up to what’s occurring and the [legislators] that are not on board with life to get on board with life … and listen to what the people are saying,” Emmons said.

In 2013, Arkansas Right to Life aims to cut off public funding for abortions, ban the use of telemedicine abortions and ban abortions on unborn children capable of feeling pain, which begins at 20 weeks, Mimms said.

The year-long petitions for these causes were available to sign at Sunday’s march.

According to the Arkansas Department of Health’s website – healthy.arkansas.gov – there were 4,532 induced abortions in Arkansas in 2010, 48 less than in 2009.

“We don’t want our tax dollars used for something we’re totally opposed to,” said Bob Fines Sr., who attended the march for the first time.

The message on signs that dotted the crowd included one that said “Stop Unborn Pain” and another was a coffin-shaped box on a pole with the words “Product of Planned Parenthood.”

Mimms said she hopes supporters of abortion rights “understand life is precious” and “they were wrong.”

“I pray every day that that will happen,” Mimms said, “that they’ll have a change of heart.”

Arkansas, Pages 7 on 01/23/2012

Print Headline: 2,000 rally against abortion

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