Joe Scheidler, national director of Pro-Life Action League is standing next to Mary Anne Hackett.
Some Consider their Rights in Jeopardy After "Unpredictable" Aurora Police Arrest Sidewalk Counselor Last Week
AURORA, Ill., April 24 /Christian Newswire/ -- On Saturday, April 26 from 9- 11 am, the first major pro-life protest of 2008 will take place at the nation's largest Planned Parenthood facility located at 3051 E. New York Street in Aurora, Ill. The protests which began last August, are organized by the Pro-Life Action League and have continued strong on a monthly basis throughout the winter, seeing 200 protestors even when temperatures dipped below zero. The opening of the facility, scheduled for mid-September, was delayed for two and a half weeks while investigations were conducted into the deceptive process in which Planned Parenthood received its occupancy and building permits.
Pro-life community members have vowed to stay the course, even taking both the city and Planned Parenthood to court. The case alleging zoning violations has been moved to federal court and is currently in pre-trial activities. In addition, the city is in the process of settling a lawsuit against them which alleges violation of protestors First Amendment rights, while Planned Parenthood is facing libel charges after running anti-protestor ads in local papers with images depicting bombed-out abortion facilities.
Despite Aurora's willingness to settle the lawsuit alleging free speech violations, some major questions still remain. Last week, a grandmother praying and handing out material on the street by Planned Parenthood, was arrested by Aurora Police after crossing over into a major thoroughfare that the facility has deemed off limits to protestors. One of the issues that will be addressed in settlement hearings is determining clear, constitutional guidelines for police officers in dealing with the peaceful protests.
"Despite the difficulties we've had with the city, we will stay our course," states Eric Scheidler, communications director for the Pro-Life Action League and an Aurora resident. "Whether it takes eight months, 12 months or 12 years, we will be at this facility until abortions are no longer performed and this deceitful business is out of our city. We will be a peaceful, ever-present reminder of the atrocities that go on inside those walls."
Organizers expect more than 500 people to attend the rally. In addition to hundreds of picketers, the rally will feature a "prayer walk" and a "baby shower" for people to donate gifts benefiting local pregnancy centers. In addition, the group will erect a "cemetery of choice" on the nearby lawn in memory of the 347 women known to have been killed by legal abortion in the U.S.
"Our counselors have seen a dozen or more women turn away from abortion after speaking with them outside this Planned Parenthood," continued Scheidler. "The women and children in Aurora are what is most important to us and we will not sit by and let Planned Parenthood hurt anymore people in our community."
Contacts for the Media
Eric Scheidler, Pro-Life Action League: 773-251- 8792
Amber Dawe, TC Public Relations: 312-422-1333, 773-203-5829 (cell)
