This banner promoting 40 Days for Life was hung over the weekend at the busy intersection of Everett Ave. and Cedar Street, on the chain link fence that belongs to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, where many of the local organizers attend Mass. By Monday morning, it became the object of graffiti for all to see.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Pro-Choice Graffiti
This banner promoting 40 Days for Life was hung over the weekend at the busy intersection of Everett Ave. and Cedar Street, on the chain link fence that belongs to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, where many of the local organizers attend Mass. By Monday morning, it became the object of graffiti for all to see.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Spirit of Planned Parenthood Shows It's Face
A report from Wednesday morning from a vigil participant:
While we were there this morning, this young man (pictured left) came out of Planned Parenthood with two of his buddies (unusual for 3 young men to be there together), and he began to taunt us, daring us to step over the property line while he stood close to the building. We had no intention of doing so and we didn't. I told him that we are law abiding citizens, all the while he continued shouting out, and began swearing. The group there continued praying aloud. I asked if he could watch his language due to the children present. Thankfully, my daughter had just decided to get out of the cold and step into our car (perhaps her guardian angel urged her).
The young man became even more hostile, more obscene, and uttered all kinds of graphically fowl nonsense, decribing acts of child
rape, and blasphemed God while we continued to pray. I stopped trying to engage him before he got to this point. I believe he was posessed, and I don't use that term lightly. He even proclaimed that he worships Satan! The other two buddies (pictured here) stood there all the while, silent, but "looking tough". The Satan worshiper was making cell phone calls, and we believed he was calling more of his friends to come and join him. They eventually all went back into the building.
Shortly afterwards, the same woman that drives by daily, just to heckle us, came by to do it again. She often tells mothers with children that we should be "ashamed" of ourselves for having our children out there in the cold. (Our children think what is going on in that clinic is cruel, and some of them beg us to go there to pray for the babies and for their mothers.) She went inside this time for just a minute or two, and then came out again, doing the same thing. We continued praying.
A couple of questions and observations come to mind about the young man.
This guy was standing only two feet from Planned Parenthood's building, even near a window and was shouting his obscenities loud enough that surely the employees inside would have heard. Why did they not come out to urge him stop? Why didn't they "distance" themselves from him? Was he their representative for the day? No orange shirt? His friend had some kind of name tag on, and they were all there for quite a while.
A pretty young girl came out and passed them by and said something like, "You eggin' on the protesters?" and grinned. She went out to the parking lot and smoked a cigarette and went back in, after giving a scoffing look when she heard the words of our prayers, "Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death." An employee or a client, I'm not sure.
It seems there are two types of people entering the building. The scared and confused (but otherwise well meaning people) and the diabolical, hard core pro-abortion zealots, whose god is Satan, and who express the spirit of Planned Parenthood. Today we got a rare look at what that spirit is like.
While we were there this morning, this young man (pictured left) came out of Planned Parenthood with two of his buddies (unusual for 3 young men to be there together), and he began to taunt us, daring us to step over the property line while he stood close to the building. We had no intention of doing so and we didn't. I told him that we are law abiding citizens, all the while he continued shouting out, and began swearing. The group there continued praying aloud. I asked if he could watch his language due to the children present. Thankfully, my daughter had just decided to get out of the cold and step into our car (perhaps her guardian angel urged her).The young man became even more hostile, more obscene, and uttered all kinds of graphically fowl nonsense, decribing acts of child
rape, and blasphemed God while we continued to pray. I stopped trying to engage him before he got to this point. I believe he was posessed, and I don't use that term lightly. He even proclaimed that he worships Satan! The other two buddies (pictured here) stood there all the while, silent, but "looking tough". The Satan worshiper was making cell phone calls, and we believed he was calling more of his friends to come and join him. They eventually all went back into the building.Shortly afterwards, the same woman that drives by daily, just to heckle us, came by to do it again. She often tells mothers with children that we should be "ashamed" of ourselves for having our children out there in the cold. (Our children think what is going on in that clinic is cruel, and some of them beg us to go there to pray for the babies and for their mothers.) She went inside this time for just a minute or two, and then came out again, doing the same thing. We continued praying.
A couple of questions and observations come to mind about the young man.
This guy was standing only two feet from Planned Parenthood's building, even near a window and was shouting his obscenities loud enough that surely the employees inside would have heard. Why did they not come out to urge him stop? Why didn't they "distance" themselves from him? Was he their representative for the day? No orange shirt? His friend had some kind of name tag on, and they were all there for quite a while.
A pretty young girl came out and passed them by and said something like, "You eggin' on the protesters?" and grinned. She went out to the parking lot and smoked a cigarette and went back in, after giving a scoffing look when she heard the words of our prayers, "Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death." An employee or a client, I'm not sure.
It seems there are two types of people entering the building. The scared and confused (but otherwise well meaning people) and the diabolical, hard core pro-abortion zealots, whose god is Satan, and who express the spirit of Planned Parenthood. Today we got a rare look at what that spirit is like.
Children are a Blessing!
The Thursday afternoon crowd has grown! Thursday is teen clinic day on certain weeks and is the only day Planned Parenthood is open as late as 6 PM. This photo was taken just before some of the 3:00 crowd left, upon some of the 4:00 crowd's arrival.Thank you to all of the beautiful families who came out to pray and be a witness to the blessings of children!
A similiar crowd can be found on Friday afternoons.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
40 Days for Life Campaign Confronts Planned Parenthood
Everett, WA – For the past 21 days local citizens have been praying and fasting for an end to abortion in front of the Everett Planned Parenthood. Over 100 people attended a rally last night to celebrate the midway point of the Everett 40 Days for Life Campaign. Eighty-nine cities in 33 states across the nation are united in an intensive effort designed to raise awareness, save lives, bring healing, and prepare America for the beginning of the end of abortion.
"The support from the community has been terrific," said Michelle McIntyre, local coordinator for the campaign. "People have stopped to offer us coffee and tell us thank you. Even Planned Parenthood's own customers have been friendly and grateful for the information we offer them."
Planned Parenthood of Western Washington, the state's largest abortion provider, is fearful that the Campaign may cut into profits. It issued a statement last week claiming that their clinics were "under siege from anti-choice protesters," and encouraged supporters to make donations. "It's odd that they call us anti-choice when it's the dedicated and loving folks participating in this vigil who are offering women the choice of having their baby – a choice that Planned Parenthood doesn't give them," said Ms. McIntyre. "As far as we know a single baby has never been born at a Planned Parenthood facility," she continued.
According to data posted on its web site, the supposedly not for profit Planned Parenthood Federation of America received $254.4 million in tax dollars in the 2002-03 fiscal year and reported revenue of $903 million during its 2005-06 fiscal year. In 2005, Planned Parenthood of Western Washington took in almost $34 million for a net profit of almost $4 million. In their 2005 annual report, the number of pregnancy-related client visits dropped slightly, but the number of abortions performed jumped from 6,200 in 2004, to just over 7,000 in 2005.
There has been little to no opposition to the Everett 40 Days for Life Campaign.
The Campaign officially began at midnight on September 26th and will end on November 4th. Vigil goers have seen their message resonate, especially with Planned Parenthood customers. One young woman came out of the Everett clinic after her abortion and walked up to vigil goers tearfully saying, "I'm sorry. I didn't want to do it but I had no choice." Vigil goers were able to offer compassionate support, the gift of prayers and a referral for post-abortion support at Project Rachel, an organization that offers women compassionate healing support after they've had abortions.
Women who have experienced abortion in the past are also participating in the 40 Days for Life Campaign. Nancy Johnson who had an abortion at the suggestion of Planned Parenthood 35 years ago, that she now regrets, is praying at the Olympia and Everett locations with a sign that reads I regret my abortion. "I wish something like 40 Days for Life had been there for me. I wasn't told about other options or warned about the harm that abortion does to women," Ms. Johnson said.
The 40 Days for Life Campaign is a nation wide effort of prayer and fasting by every day Americans in 89 cities across the United States. For more details, visit http://40daysforlife.com/ and http://www.40daysforlife.com/everett/
"The support from the community has been terrific," said Michelle McIntyre, local coordinator for the campaign. "People have stopped to offer us coffee and tell us thank you. Even Planned Parenthood's own customers have been friendly and grateful for the information we offer them."
Planned Parenthood of Western Washington, the state's largest abortion provider, is fearful that the Campaign may cut into profits. It issued a statement last week claiming that their clinics were "under siege from anti-choice protesters," and encouraged supporters to make donations. "It's odd that they call us anti-choice when it's the dedicated and loving folks participating in this vigil who are offering women the choice of having their baby – a choice that Planned Parenthood doesn't give them," said Ms. McIntyre. "As far as we know a single baby has never been born at a Planned Parenthood facility," she continued.
According to data posted on its web site, the supposedly not for profit Planned Parenthood Federation of America received $254.4 million in tax dollars in the 2002-03 fiscal year and reported revenue of $903 million during its 2005-06 fiscal year. In 2005, Planned Parenthood of Western Washington took in almost $34 million for a net profit of almost $4 million. In their 2005 annual report, the number of pregnancy-related client visits dropped slightly, but the number of abortions performed jumped from 6,200 in 2004, to just over 7,000 in 2005.
There has been little to no opposition to the Everett 40 Days for Life Campaign.
The Campaign officially began at midnight on September 26th and will end on November 4th. Vigil goers have seen their message resonate, especially with Planned Parenthood customers. One young woman came out of the Everett clinic after her abortion and walked up to vigil goers tearfully saying, "I'm sorry. I didn't want to do it but I had no choice." Vigil goers were able to offer compassionate support, the gift of prayers and a referral for post-abortion support at Project Rachel, an organization that offers women compassionate healing support after they've had abortions.
Women who have experienced abortion in the past are also participating in the 40 Days for Life Campaign. Nancy Johnson who had an abortion at the suggestion of Planned Parenthood 35 years ago, that she now regrets, is praying at the Olympia and Everett locations with a sign that reads I regret my abortion. "I wish something like 40 Days for Life had been there for me. I wasn't told about other options or warned about the harm that abortion does to women," Ms. Johnson said.The 40 Days for Life Campaign is a nation wide effort of prayer and fasting by every day Americans in 89 cities across the United States. For more details, visit http://40daysforlife.com/ and http://www.40daysforlife.com/everett/
"Under Siege"
Over 150 local pro-lifers in the Everett area have committed to not only praying, but being physically present on the front lines—the public sidewalk in front of Planned Parenthood--at various times throughout the round the clock schedule. Their willingness to sacrifice their time and to risk ridicule by providing a physical presence there is making a major impact on women entering that clinic and the decisions they are facing, and the innocent lives that are scheduled for destruction. As well, an impact on the business of Planned Parenthood.
We know this is so, because Planned Parenthood saw fit to respond by investing in the printing of a propaganda piece filled with false accusations about what our campaign is about and how our participants are conducting themselves.
They accuse of us of handing out misleading information, carrying disturbing signs, blocking access to their clinics, and harassing their patients and staff.
Not one of these accusations is true.
The information we hand out includes a list of places for a pregnant woman to get help, a list of ways that the agencies we recommend can help the woman and her baby, scientifically accurate milestones in fetal development and a list of the physical and emotional consequences of going through with an abortion.
The signs we carry all contain loving messages like: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.”—God, “Women Deserve Better than Abortion”, “Pray to End Abortion”, “Jesus Forgives,” and “Let the Baby Live.”
We have never blocked access to their clinic, and have obeyed all laws. The Everett Police Department will tell you that there have been no problems in the 20 days we’ve been there. Planned Parenthood would have reported it to them if there were any violations of the law on our part. The building is under constant video surveillance.
Most of our vigil participants simply stand on the sidewalk and pray. Some, but not all, hold a sign. A handful of us engage in sidewalk counseling. It is always peaceful on our part, and most of the women on their way into the clinic respond positively to our message. Most of them thank us for the information we give them or politely turn us down, and we respect their space and continue praying for them. We offer one last time on their way out. Many respond more to us after they’ve been inside.
So, why the propaganda piece, and the desperate plea for help from the outside? There are two claims their orange flier got partially right.
They accuse of us of handing out misleading information, carrying disturbing signs, blocking access to their clinics, and harassing their patients and staff.
Not one of these accusations is true.
The information we hand out includes a list of places for a pregnant woman to get help, a list of ways that the agencies we recommend can help the woman and her baby, scientifically accurate milestones in fetal development and a list of the physical and emotional consequences of going through with an abortion.
The signs we carry all contain loving messages like: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.”—God, “Women Deserve Better than Abortion”, “Pray to End Abortion”, “Jesus Forgives,” and “Let the Baby Live.”
We have never blocked access to their clinic, and have obeyed all laws. The Everett Police Department will tell you that there have been no problems in the 20 days we’ve been there. Planned Parenthood would have reported it to them if there were any violations of the law on our part. The building is under constant video surveillance.
Most of our vigil participants simply stand on the sidewalk and pray. Some, but not all, hold a sign. A handful of us engage in sidewalk counseling. It is always peaceful on our part, and most of the women on their way into the clinic respond positively to our message. Most of them thank us for the information we give them or politely turn us down, and we respect their space and continue praying for them. We offer one last time on their way out. Many respond more to us after they’ve been inside.
So, why the propaganda piece, and the desperate plea for help from the outside? There are two claims their orange flier got partially right.
Claim One: They said of us, “They want to close our doors!” The fact is, we do want their doors to close permanently, but we will not be doing the closing. That is up to God and we know he will cause that to happen; it’s just a matter of time.
Claim Two: They said, “We are under siege at our Everett location.” This is true, but not in the way they imply. They imply “under siege” by physical force, but the fact is that this is a spiritual siege. Our weapons are prayer, fasting, compassion, wisdom, truthfulness and a smile.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
We're Halfway There!
This Tuesday, October 16th, we celebrate our midway mark. We are half way through our 40 Days.Please join us as we rejoice in the amazing ways God has blessed this campaign so far, giving thanks for all of our joys and sufferings. "In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Back by popular demand, Donna Cori Gibson with music that will lift your heart...and more great speakers!
Rally begins at 7 PM at the Knights of Columbus Hall (2913 W. Marine View Drive Everett). See you there!
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