Pro-life event July 31- August 6 will mark the 20th anniversary of Summer of Mercy while using new, cutting edge tactics to expose horrific late-term abortions

Germantown, MD – Twenty years after the historic “Summer of Mercy” abortion protests in Wichita, Kansas, thrust the matter of abortion into the national public eye, Operation Rescue is once again calling for Americans of conscience to converge upon a late-term abortion clinic, this time in Germantown, Maryland, from July 31 through August 2 for what will be known as the “Summer of Mercy 2.0.”

“We sense a critical need to gather in Germantown to expose the horrific late-term abortion business of LeRoy Carhart, to prayerfully intervene on behalf of the babies that are scheduled to die, and to provide a peaceful yet powerful pro-life witness to the nation,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman.

Activities during the Summer of Mercy 2.0 event will include round-the-clock prayer and worship, inspiring evening rallies with national political and Christian leaders, and cutting edge public events. It promises to be an historic season of prayerful and prophetic witness in Maryland.

The event is being planned by a coalition of pro-life/pro-family groups, including Operation Rescue, the Christian Defense Coalition, the Maryland Coalition for Life, and several local churches.

Americans overwhelming oppose late-term abortions, and Carhart may be among the worst in the nation. He is currently under criminal investigation in his home state of Nebraska for illegal and unsafe practices brought forward by his former employees. In Maryland, he is the subject of a full and active investigation by the Maryland Board of Physicians.

Carhart aborts babies in Maryland through the ninth month of pregnancy, when risks to the woman dramatically increase, even though he has no hospital privileges, and has not had any since 1987. Carhart was involved in the avoidable third-trimester abortion death of 19-year old Christin Gilbert in 2005.

“This summer we believe God is calling the pro-life community to come to Germantown, Maryland for ‘The Summer of Mercy 2.0.’ It is our hope and prayer that as scores come to ‘establish justice in the gates’ we will see an end to the violence of abortion and especially the practice of late-term abortion provider LeRoy Carhart,” said Rev. Patrick Mahoney, who heads the Christian Defense Coalition and is one of the event organizers.

“Now is time for us the embrace the cross and walk in radical obedience unto the Lord. Our desire is to see a sovereign God powerfully move, shift history, bring awakening to our nation and end abortion,” said Newman. “Twenty years ago, ‘The Summer of Mercy’ changed America forever. It is our hope and prayer that ‘The Summer of Mercy 2.0’ will bring even greater change and transformation to our nation. We urge all pro-lifer supporters to join us in Maryland to touch hearts, save lives and make history.”

Visit the Summer of Mercy 2.0 web site