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DEL.ICIO.USAbortion foes rally at Capitol
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The annual anti-abortion rally on the anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision took place today outside of the state Capitol.
Hundreds of people holding signs reading “Abortion kills children” and “Stop Abortion Now” began to gather under overcast skies for the Together For Life march sponsored by Georgia Right to Life. A band played Christian inspirational music.
Georgia Right to Life is hoping the Legislature will support a proposed amendment to the state Constitution that would — if approved by voters — ban abortion in Georgia, except to save the life of the mother.
Several speakers, including Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and House Speaker Glenn Richardson, addressed the crowd, which in the past has numbered as many as 5,000. Similar rallies are taking place in Washington and other U.S. cities.
The crowd, which was smaller than in years past, roared when reminded that the offices of Georgia’s governor and lieutenant governor, along with a majority of the seats in the House and Senate, are occupied by elected officials who oppose abortion.
A couple dozen House and Senate members, along with Richardson and Cagle, were introduced at the rally.
Both Richardson and Cagle spoke of the positive impact having children has had on their lives and commended the crowd for continuing the 34-year fight to outlaw abortion.
Archbishop Wilton Gregory of the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta also spoke.
But it was a Baptist preacher from a small south Georgia town who truly stirred the crowd.
Mike Stone, pastor of the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear, gave a fervent speech about abortion — what he termed “America’s holocaust.”
Stone took the elected officials - most of whom had left for a 1 p.m. legislative session inside the Capitol - to task. Stone didn’t mention names, but he warned the crowd of “slick politicians” who campaign on an anti-abortion platform only to abandon it once they get elected.
Stone predicted that some of those elected officials present at the rally would not support the constitutional amendment banning abortion when it comes up for a vote.
“We’re going to be watching how you vote on this personhood amendment,” Stone said to cheers from the crowd.
After Stone spoke, a recording of a fetal hearbeat was played over loudspeakers, a bugler sounded “Taps” and the crowd began a silent march through the streets of downtown Atlanta.
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