About 400 march against abortion

Anne Thompson-Coke, left, Tim Thompson and Rachel Gray carry a large cross to the Capitol during the MidWest March for Life that started at the Governor’s Mansion and proceeded to the south lawn of the statehouse. Photo by Julie Smith.

By Michelle Brooks

Friday, January 20, 2012

Photo by Julie Smith

Connie Eller of St. Louis carried this sign in Thursday’s pro-life MidWest March for Life. She is a social worker at Our Lady’s Inn in St. Louis, one of the two largest maternity homes in the country.

“Help Stop Abortion.” “Vote Pro Life.” “Live Without Regret.” “Men Regret Lost Fatherhood.” “Stop Black Genocide.”

These signs were carried Thursday morning during the MidWest March for Life in Jefferson City.

As hundreds of concerned residents gathered on the sidewalks of Madison Street in front of the Governor’s Mansion, organizers and volunteers handed out stickers, programs and signs.

Read additional details in our newspaper or e-Edition. Newspaper subscribers: Click on an e-Edition article and log in using your current account information at no extra charge. For e-edition help, e-mail circ@newstribune.com. Click here to purchase the full version of archived articles.

More like this story

JCLifer 1 year, 4 months ago

Don't want one- then don't get one. Problem solved.

Gabrielle 1 year, 4 months ago

state or federal issue? Ron Paul says 'state' in the debate last evening.

tonto_goldberg 1 year, 4 months ago

Not specifically listed in the Constitution? It doesn't matter.

The Constitution of 1789 is a marvelous instrument. It is not like a grocery list at all - instead, it is a pact between the people and their federal government created by a few visionaries. Most of the states' imagined sovereignty was transferred to the federal government out of necessity. The drafters intended it that way, since the states had failed to cooperate with each other adequately on many critical issues. The delegates to the constitutional convention realized that a mob of quarrelsome states could never provide the cohesive organization that a growing nation would need. A unified federal government could provide, among other things, a uniform currency, uniform laws, a coordinated military, and a consistent economic and trade policy. The states could never have done that.

The Constitution was also made flexible enough to provide for the changes that would come along, without needing a crystal ball and a sorcerer to guess at what those might be back in 1789. That's why it has worked so well for so long.

12345678 1 year, 4 months ago

“Don't want one- then don't get one. Problem solved” does not solve the problem. I don’t care what stage abortionists, doctors, and scientists want to call those precious gifts from God, But in my house, We call them BABIES, Murder is Murder.

O Evil world, turn from your evil ways, or suffer the wrath of God!!!

Gabrielle 1 year, 4 months ago

Do you support the death penalty?

Gabrielle 1 year, 4 months ago

12345678 is calling abortion murder. There are people who call the death penalty murder. I would like to know where the line is for 12345678 in value of life.....add the last line 'O Evil world, thurn from your evil ways, or suffer the wrath of God!!!' Following this line of thinking, there would also be 'the wrath of God!!!' to suffer.

Gabrielle 1 year, 4 months ago

one must accept the fetus = person to consider this 'murder of the innocent'.

The death penalty also implies the correct person is convicted and the correct one to be executed/murdered. There is a real possibility innocent people have been executed. This is murder. Because one has a 'fair trial' does not necessarily guarantee the right person is convicted.

tonto_goldberg 1 year, 4 months ago

All true. To a so-called pro-lifer every fetus is a perfect month or so old Gerber baby. You've seen the billboards. It's how they envision it and it's not something you can help them change. To those so-called pro-lifers anyone arrested for murder is guilty and should be executed. Again, it's how they envision it and you can't help them change.

tonto_goldberg 1 year, 4 months ago

Reality doesn't need me or anyone else to give it any sort of character or their special blessing. The right-to-life movement can't tolerate reality because it's not always pretty, and reality is not very convenient when you've made your mind up in advance.

tonto_goldberg 1 year, 4 months ago

No one is forced to have an abortion. That's where this started out. If you don't want one, don't have one. Leave other people alone.

tonto_goldberg 1 year, 3 months ago

Those seven judges said that the rights of the women to carry or not carry a pregnancy to term were more important than the rights of a bunch of meddling outsiders to not be offended. Those outsiders have now decided that anyone who disagrees with them is not entitled to respect or legal protection.

Gabrielle 1 year, 4 months ago

when you say 'federal government, are you referring to the Supreme Court?

Gabrielle 1 year, 4 months ago

Roe v Wade was about privacy.....right? How does the law define personhood?

tonto_goldberg 1 year, 4 months ago

It's not that simple. Roe vs Wade sidesteps that important moral judgement by taking a couple of arbitrary dates and limiting the regulation of abortion based on whether those dates have come and gone. Those dates are no longer accurate measures of viability because of medical advances since 1970.

If you're a right-to-lifer, all fetuses are persons and what the law says doesn't matter. Meanwhile, the states are trying very hard to get around Roe vs. Wade by defining a fetus as a person at one or another times in its existence. They might do better by trying to get the trimester system changed to reflect more current standards of viability but who am I to advise them? The right-to-lifers take an all-or-nothing approach, and reducing abortions doens't interest them because many of them are also anti-sex.

Gabrielle 1 year, 3 months ago

Graceful: It seems everyone is 'justifying' something. If the issue is the respect for life - including a fetus - why is it okay to end the life of someone here in the flesh b/c they did something awful? If we believe in protecting life - why not all life - I am talking human life here. The key word between the two seems to do with 'innocence'. Is it about valuing life or determining innoncence/guilt? It would be nice if we were consistent here. Personally, I dislike abortion and I dislike the death penalty. And it is not a simple explanation.

karaokequeen 1 year, 4 months ago

Ya know....if our government would inact much stronger laws for deadbeat Dads/Mom's there would be a whole lot less abortion.This country have nowhere near the collection laws that it should have.The state of Mo. is rediculous with the amount of time and effort put into collecting child support......

whatif 1 year, 4 months ago

I don't understand why we pray for something or protest against something that is already after the fact and nmho too late. If a person is advocating an abortion -- isn't it already too late. Would it not make more sense to pray to stop unwanted pregnancies, rape, sexual molestations and for people to be more responsible regarding sex. Instead of demonstrating against abortion, should we not be offering another solution -- adoption maybe....something other than beating up those who for whatever reason are even contemplating such a thing. We have children having children and all you can do is protest abortion - come on be creative in this and not just another one of those protesters who will protest and protest and protest, but refuse to offer a real sollution to a real problem. It has been said before and I will repeat if you don't have a solution you are part of the problem. Do you really believe that all the signs and standing around accomplishes anything - SERIOUSLY!!! Except spread hate maybe -- is that your intention?

tonto_goldberg 1 year, 4 months ago

You have to look at the faces of those people walking in the cold to understand them.

You can't apply logic to an emotional situation and get anything useful out of the process. The News Tribune count is grossly overstated, but those are the true believers. You shouldn't even try to reason with them.

tonto_goldberg 1 year, 4 months ago

So that's why they stand on the sidewalk outside Planned Parenthood shrieking and gesturing at customers? That's why they murder doctors and nurses? I am so glad you explained all that.

JMO 1 year, 3 months ago

Was the egg you ate for breakfast a chicken?

Gabrielle 1 year, 4 months ago

whatif: I really like you line of thinking. I am certain protesters and intercessors are good well intended people. I am also certain that a serious evaluation of goals, actions and outcomes would result in change. of course, there may be other factors that come into play that are not evident.

tonto_goldberg 1 year, 3 months ago

I disagree. People who believe strongly in the rightness of their cause are not able to change. They do not see the need for change, and they believe the end justifies the means. The statement "Very few murder doctors and nurses" above ought to make that pretty clear for you.

cmnsense 1 year, 3 months ago

whatif: You are exactly right. The reason someone would even contemplate this procedure is because the pregnancy is unPLANNED and unWANTED. If there were more and easier access to reasonably priced birth control, this wouldn't be an issue. Maybe every "pro-lifer" could sponser someone who just had an abortion, to pay for getting her tubes tied. Or offer to pay for her birth control for a year. Problem solved. No more unplanned or unwanted pregnancies. No more abortions for that person.

As for the doctors who perform the procedures, it is their JOB, and they have that job because there is a demand for that service. They do it safely so that there are no deaths from women trying to induce a miscarriage.

cmnsense 1 year, 3 months ago

But not very realistic.

JCLifer 1 year, 3 months ago

Why not?

cmnsense 1 year, 3 months ago

If you are seriously wanting an answer to that, maybe you need to get out more.... lol

JCLifer 1 year, 3 months ago

No, seriously. Cannot people control their urges, especially if it results in creating a human life that they are unwilling to support?

cmnsense 1 year, 3 months ago

It's not a question of controlling them, of course people can control their urges (and those who can't are locked up), but no one has the right to tell anyone else that they can't have sex with their spouse or significant other because it MIGHT result in pregnancy. People have to be responsible and take precautions against it. Not everyone does, maybe they think it won't happen to them.

But people protesting and shouting at the top of their lungs won't change anything. As long as there are unwanted pregnancies, there will be abortions. That's why it needs to be kept legal and safe. Should it be used as a form of birth control? Absolutely not! There are a lot of cheaper and easier forms of birth control. There are short-term, long-term and permanent. But they have to be USED. And you can't force people to do that either.

JCLifer 1 year, 3 months ago

Agree with you there. Protesting abortions is too late. They need to be protesting unwanted pregnacies.

Sequoia 1 year, 3 months ago

Many women are not totally in charge of their sexuality. Sex is not always the story of "choosing" to have sex or not that you see on after-school specials. Women do not always have the choices that we would like them to have in an ideal world.

JMO 1 year, 3 months ago

Let's not forget that ONLY abstaining is 100% too. There are plenty of people for whom birth control fails. Heck, I know a woman who got pregnant three times while taking the pill. Or perhaps it was date-rape or other unplanned and unwanted sexual contact. That happens too.

momof3girls 1 year, 3 months ago

cmnsense.....? seriously? Why should pro-lifers have to pay for irresponsible people having UNPLANNED or UNWANTED babies. I don't understand that reasoning at all. I have 3 daughters and I try not to judge others in their decisions on Pro-choice or Pro-life and realized in reality things happen. But I am pretty tired of people thinking others are responsible for the irresponsible. This is why our taxes are too high along with our Medical insurance. I personally am sick and tired of paying for other peoples so called mistakes. I have worked hard all my life.My 3 daughter was a pleasant surprise.(wouldn't change it for the world).....but I sure didn't ask anyone else to pay for anything! Maybe parents should start caring about what their children are doing and not have a blind eye to reality. Which would also help with teenage pregnancies, etc.

cmnsense 1 year, 3 months ago

Actually, I was just trying to expand on whatif's comment about coming up with a solution to the problem instead of marching and shouting and spitting into the wind. That doesn't accomplish anything. If pro-lifers are truly so passionate about ending abortion, maybe they should actually put their signs down and think about why there is a demand for abortion. Then maybe they can get involved in a program that addresses the real problem, unwanted pregnancies.

lovemykids 1 year, 3 months ago

When I had my daughter I was 21. I practically begged the doctors to tie my tubes. I was repeatedly denied. I called every doctor's office from JC to STL. I was told that no doctor would do that for someone so young. I was old enough to know that I couldn't support 2 kids. Yet I was turned down by every doctor I spoke with. Maybe this is part of the problem.

Please review our Policies and Procedures before registering or commenting

Or login with:

OpenID