2008 Woodie Awards
Right to life rally sends strong message
Meg VanDeventer
Issue date: 2/20/07 Section: News
Passersby turned away in disgust Saturday afternoon as anti-abortion activists of Delaware's Right to Life held its monthly "Face the Truth" rally on the corner of South College and Delaware Avenue, continuing to remind the community of the issue.
Few attended the rally but onlookers took notice of the disturbing images held up depicting bodies of aborted babies.
Rae Stevosz, board member of the Right to Life organization, said she blamed the cold weather for the rally's low attendance, but was certain the organization's actions would be effective.
"We get all kinds of reactions," Stevosz said. "People give us the finger, some people yell at us, some people give us thumbs up, some turn their heads in disgust and others just look stonily ahead."
Stevosz, a mother of nine, referred to the abortion debate as the critical civil rights issue of the 21st century. As an activist at the university since 1967, she said she will continue to stand up for her beliefs despite the campus' consistently apathetic attitude.
Moira Sheridan, president of Delaware's Right to Life, said she immediately realized what her stance would be on the issue after the historical case of Roe v. Wade.
"I knew instinctively in 1973 that this was a horrible thing and I needed to do something about it," Sheridan said. "What needs to be changed are people's hearts and people's minds - what people need to realize is that abortion is the biggest tragedy in this century."
Sheridan said college students are the targeted demographic and most likely to have an abortion because of the promiscuous habits often found on campus. She argued that contraception is not enough and that nearly half of all abortions are performed on women who use a form of contraception.
For this reason, Sheridan and other pro-life activists hold a "Face the Truth" demonstration monthly in different locations, but said they chose to rally at the university because of its demographic.
Few attended the rally but onlookers took notice of the disturbing images held up depicting bodies of aborted babies.
Rae Stevosz, board member of the Right to Life organization, said she blamed the cold weather for the rally's low attendance, but was certain the organization's actions would be effective.
"We get all kinds of reactions," Stevosz said. "People give us the finger, some people yell at us, some people give us thumbs up, some turn their heads in disgust and others just look stonily ahead."
Stevosz, a mother of nine, referred to the abortion debate as the critical civil rights issue of the 21st century. As an activist at the university since 1967, she said she will continue to stand up for her beliefs despite the campus' consistently apathetic attitude.
Moira Sheridan, president of Delaware's Right to Life, said she immediately realized what her stance would be on the issue after the historical case of Roe v. Wade.
"I knew instinctively in 1973 that this was a horrible thing and I needed to do something about it," Sheridan said. "What needs to be changed are people's hearts and people's minds - what people need to realize is that abortion is the biggest tragedy in this century."
Sheridan said college students are the targeted demographic and most likely to have an abortion because of the promiscuous habits often found on campus. She argued that contraception is not enough and that nearly half of all abortions are performed on women who use a form of contraception.
For this reason, Sheridan and other pro-life activists hold a "Face the Truth" demonstration monthly in different locations, but said they chose to rally at the university because of its demographic.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Stephen N Roche
posted 2/26/07 @ 1:38 AM EST
It is puzzling that a small, peaceful group of adults handing out leaflets and carrying signs should elicit the brutish, mean-spirited reactions from passersby described in this article. (Continued…)
snroche
Stephen N Roche
posted 2/26/07 @ 1:48 AM EST
It is puzzling that a small, peaceful group of adults handing out leaflets and carrying signs should elicit the brutish, mean-spirited reactions from passersby described in this article. (Continued…)
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