Abortion protest set Sunday

In communities throughout America Sunday, abortion protesters will take to the streets.

In Farmington, from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. those who oppose abortion are asked to line up along the south side of Karsh Blvd. from Potosi Street to Washington.

“We want people to park at Memorial United Methodist Church and we will have signs for them or they can bring their own,” said Clark Crawford, a member of Missouri Right To Life. “They can bring lawn chairs if they wish.”

To find out more about the Life Chain, contact him at 756-7789 or Mike Kohlbaker at 431-4070.

As many as 350 people have participated in the local event. Crawford said he hoped 500 people would turn out this year.

Abortion remains a subject of controversy and of frequent legislation to regulate it. Crawford cited the legislature’s recent override of Governor Holden’s veto of the waiting period for abortions in Missouri.

“There are waiting periods for getting guns, why not for getting an abortion?” Crawford asked. “They should wait at least 24 hours, but of course, we’d rather they wait nine months and not have an abortion.”

Tuesday, the U.S. House and Senate negotiators reached quick agreement on what would be the first federal act in three decades to ban an abortion procedure. Supporters of a ban on what they call “partial birth abortion” said it would end an inhumane practice and give momentum to their drive to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that declared women have the right to an abortion.

Opponents said the ban is unconstitutional and promised to challenge it in court as soon as President Bush signs it into law. Both the House and the Senate are expected to pass the compromise bill and send it to the president soon.

“I think at the minimum, the annual Life Chain makes a visible awareness of what’s going on,” said Crawford. “People here do have strong feelings about the right to life.”