On Saturday, July 11, World Can’t Wait counter-protested the Pro-Life Action League (PLAL), a Chicago based anti-choice group of religious zealots who aim to dismantle the rights of women to control their bodies and futures. Under the guise of love and humanity, PLAL flooded the streets with gory images of fetuses meant to emotionally manipulate the public into believing their disgusting message. Because PLAL wishes to limit our freedoms concerning privacy and bodily autonomy, World Can’t Wait knows they must not go unopposed. We faced them in the streets with a message of our own, as we approached them with our own sign, stating, “Abortion on demand and without apology!” We also emphasized the importance of opposing groups such as PLAL, saying, “Life begins when you stand up to Christian fascists! Gay marriage now! Defend Abortion rights!” We placed ourselves and our banners in the center of their flock, making our fearless opposition known to all.
Many PLAL members attempted friendly conversation, but merely as a tactic to temporarily distract us from handing out fliers and yelling chants. These smooth attempts at small talk often exposed the appalling, yet not surprising, ignorance behind the group’s agenda, as several PLAL members informed us of how condoms don’t prevent the spread of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. There also seemed to be a lack of knowledge on pregnancy and biology, as one young man from their group claimed that a pregnancy could never harm a woman’s body because a fetus exists separately from the woman and therefore poses no risk to her health. Aside from the artificial kindness and small talk, one PLAL member stooped so low as to insult one of us with sexist and homophobic remarks. To some, all of the compassion and talk of “Jesus’ love and forgiveness” may seem genuine at first. As the day went on, however, the false exterior dwindled away to expose the truth behind their message; hateful ignorance and a complete lack of respect for a woman’s life and body.
Although WCW followed PLAL to the locations they had chosen to protest, it became obvious who the streets really belonged to. Angered drivers expressed their disgust, both verbally and physically, towards the atrocious signs of mangled fetuses. “What about a picture of a bloody coat hanger?” one woman said, challenging them as she drove by. The public saw through the tactics and refused to be manipulated by images, as pro-choice people honked at us from their cars to show their support. Even near the end of the evening, we knew it was our turf as we repeatedly received overly positive feedback and support from passersby.
One woman, having driven past the sea of anti-choice wing nuts, approached us and our sign, yelling, “Choice! Choice! Choice!” We encouraged these obviously concerned and angered citizens to participate and join us in defending reproductive rights and family planning services. Out of the car and into the streets! Don’t let anti-choice zealots go unopposed!
Without this basic right, women can never be free!
Abortion on demand and without apology!
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