| SAINT PAUL — Thousands of Minnesotans attended the March for Life on Sunday, Jan. 22 at the state capitol—and at other locations across the state. The annual event, put on by Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL), marks the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision in 1973.
Since that decision nearly 40 years ago, the number of abortions nationwide is estimated to be more than 50 million, some 567,000 in Minnesota.
The March for Life is a public opportunity for Minnesotans and political leaders to express their support for the pro-life movement and pro-life legislation and policies. Each year, people from around the state attend, often arriving by vanload or busload from hours away.
Minnesota congressional members Erik Paulsen (3rd district), John Kline (2nd district), Chip Cravaack (8th district) and Michele Bachmann (6th district) appeared at the March, each speaking for a few minutes. Congressman Collin Peterson (7th district) sent his support in writing.
The speakers’ messages were all similar: continue to support pro-life policies and never give up.
According to a news release from MCCL, Kline said: “We’ve got to be here year after year, week after week, day after day fighting the fight. Push back to save those lives!”
That support was echoed by Bachmann, who said: “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!”
Paulsen told the crowd, “Let’s work and promise that we will communicate and organize and vote to protect the unborn.”
In Minnesota, pro-lifers will have to work hard to get their policies heard in this year’s shortened legislative session, which already has a crowded agenda—Vikings stadium, jobs bill and bonding. This session, typically called the “bonding session,” includes work on the state’s infrastructure.
MCCL is highlighting two issues in this year’s legislative priorities. The first revolves around the inspection and regulation of the state’s abortion centers, which according to MCCL, are currently not inspected.
The issue gained national attention recently in Philadelphia, where an abortion doctor was charged in the deaths of several babies and a patient. The clinic where he worked had not undergone an inspection in many years. According to a report in the “Washington Post,” authorities believe “live-born babies were killed at the clinic by having their spinal cords severed with scissors.”
Philadelphia prosecutors have referred to the clinic as a “house of horrors,” according to published reports.
This incident has caused pro-life supporters to call for more inspections and regulations of abortion centers.
In addition, MCCL hopes to advance bills that would prohibit webcam abortions and add protections on the use of RU486.
This past summer, published reports indicated that Planned Parenthood’s satellite office in Rochester, Minn., was performing medicinal abortions, which typically involve RU486.
Scott Fischbach, executive director of MCCL, said that 14 women in the U.S. have died after taking the RU486 abortions drugs, making them dangerous.
In a December interview with the “Christian Examiner,” Fischbach said of RU486: “It’s kind of a drug cocktail; it’s a two drug process. You take the initial RU486 drug, which cuts off all the nutrients to the baby. That drug in itself is dangerous because of what it’s doing inside your body. And that of course will kill the baby.”
A second drug is then taken, which causes contractions in the mother.
This year’s legislative session began Jan. 24.
ACTIONPOINT: For more information about MCCL, visit www.mccl.org.
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