ST. PAUL—Over four thousand Minnesotans marched at the State Capitol today to urge lawmakers to establish inspections of abortion centers and to ban "webcam abortions."
The 2012 MCCL March for Life marked the 39th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Jan. 22, 1973, Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions that have resulted in the deaths of more than 567,000 unborn Minnesota children (Minnesota Department of Health), and more than 53 million unborn babies nationwide.
MCCL's 2012 legislative agenda calls upon lawmakers to require abortion centers to be inspected. A legal abortion center in Philadelphia was inspected for the first time in more than 20 years recently. The state found not only filthy conditions, but evidence that a significant number of babies had been born alive, then killed by the severing of their spinal cords. At least two women died after going to the facility. Minnesota has no way of knowing whether abortion centers in the state are safe for women, because they remain unregulated and uninspected.
Webcam abortions are done without a doctor physically present. Instead the doctor administers the RU486 abortion drugs remotely via an Internet-based webcam video connection. This increases the risks of RU486, which can be severe: At least 14 women have died in the U.S. after taking the drugs. Canada has banned the abortion method due to safety concerns. Yet Planned Parenthood offers it to young Minnesota mothers without a doctor available to physically examine the woman prior to administering the drugs."Governor Dayton, Speaker Zellers and Majority Leader Senjem, hear us loud and clear—ban webcam abortions now!" MCCL Development Director Jennifer Kistler told the huge crowd of citizens from across the state.
Mary Johnson of Silent No More Minnesota, a post-abortion recovery group, shared her horrific experience with RU486. Not only was the pain of the abortion excruciating, but she was left alone in her regret and grief. "If I could talk to a woman considering the RU486 method, I would encourage her not to have an abortion because she will regret it and they are misleading women into believing it is a better option," Johnson said. She now serves as the director of Alpha Pregnancy Resource Center in Savage.
Congressman John Kline encouraged pro-life citizens to persevere. "We've got to be here year after year, week after week, day after day fighting the fight," he said. "Push back to save those lives!"
Congressman Erik Paulsen said, "Let's work and promise that we will communicate and organize and vote to protect the unborn."
In her first public appearance since leaving the presidential race, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann told the crowd, "We will never forget those little ones who were taken from us—over 50 million strong! … We will never give up! Join me this year—choose life!"
Congressman Chip Cravaack reminded people to mourn the lives lost to abortion. "We must do everything to protect the unborn and now, our senior citizens. ... Keep up the fight, Minnesota!"
In a written greeting, Congressman Collin Peterson pledged to continue to work on passage of pro-life policies.
View photos from today's 2012 MCCL March for Life on the MCCL website.
MCCL is Minnesota's oldest and largest pro-life organization with more than 70,000 member families and 240 chapters across the state.
