Anti-Abortion Protestors Disturbing Communities
Anti-Choice Activists' Graphic Images in Protests Upsetting Many
May 7, 2009
While anti-abortion activists are trying to make their point with graphic images of aborted fetuses, communities are upset by what they see as disruption and harassment. Protestors at Notre Dame pushed the boundaries of the law and outraged many families who were afraid their children and grandchildren were being exposed to the violent and bloody propoganda. Families in Nebraska tried to take a stand against a protestor they say was harassing their neighborhood, but the anti-abortion activists continue to protest on their street.
Notre Dame Campus Protesters Disturb and Disrupt the Community
In honor of President Barack Obama speaking at Notre Dame's commencement ceremony, some anti-choice protesters have come out in full force to denounce the pro-choice President.
But members of the community are horrified by their tactics – especially protesters driving trucks around the neighborhoods covered in bloody anti-abortion images. While the people have all said they respect the protesters' rights to freedom of speech, they are concerned about how they will protect their children and grandchildren.
"[My granddaughter] saw one of the pictures. She's three and a half. I didn't get a chance to protect her. I didn't get a chance for her not to see it," said Lynn Nemeth of Mishawaka.
One anti-choice protester, Randall Terry, was arrested after being warned by Notre Dame he was not to step foot on the campus. Terry, along with several other anti-choice protestors, went to the campus anyway and pushed around carriages with baby dolls covered in fake blood. He was then arrested on charges of criminal trespassing.
Nebraska Man Arrested for Trying to Stop an Anti-Choice Protester
For weeks, people in Bellevue, Nebraska were subjected to anti-choice propaganda as a protester drove through their neighborhood in a truck covered with graphic images of aborted fetuses. People were outraged their children were seeing the images and even more upset they were unable to protect them. They had no warning when the protestor from Rescue the Heartland would be driving down the street and no idea how to keep their children safe.
One man, Larry Spurgeon, had enough and laid down in the street to block the truck. He was arrested for for refusing an order to get out of the street. Despite his arrest, Spurgeon said he'd do it again.
"Free speech is one thing, but it becomes harassment after 23 times and we're keeping our kids in the house," said Spurgeon's wife, Karen.
Rescue the Heartland targeted the neighborhood because a nurse who assisted at a health center that provided pregnancy termination services lived there. But neighbors were not bothered by the nurse, they were bothered by the over-zealous actions of the protester.
Some in the Anti-Choice Community are Unconcerned about Community Outrage
Though the community and Notre Dame are trying to limit the anti-choice protests, there is little legal action they can take. Notre Dame has banned some anti-choice instigators from campus who are likely to cause significant problems – like Randall Terry – and then followed through by pressing charges.
The driver of the truck in Nebraska was Larry Donlan, leader of anti-choice group Rescue the Heartland. He told reporters that the parents should be using the images to talk to their kids about abortion.
“It’s the parents that get upset. I haven’t seen any children upset." Donlan told reporters.
Despite outcry from parents and the community, anti-choice protestors are undeterred. In fact, anti-choice protesters Larry Donlan, Greg Hansen, Mary Hansen and Roscoe Corell sued Bellevue and Sarpy County in Nebraska to be allowed to continue to protest in residential neighborhoods. They won and now taxpayers will have to pay $125,000 in legal fees for anti-choice protesters to continue to target people like a nurse and her neighbors.
Though the community does not want the anti-choice community exposing their children and families to bloody propaganda, the some in the anti-choice community continue to try and make their point through any means possible and regardless of the consequences.
