Life Chain protests abortion

Edmonton activists hold up signs, pray

By RAMON GONZALEZ
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

Braving the cold Sunday weather and holding signs that read, "Abortion kills children" and "Abortion hurts women," the demonstrators stood along 149th Street and Stony Plain Road for about an hour praying and waving to passing motorists.

Alida Plooy and her husband Cornelius, a couple from near Elk Island Park, attended the demonstration for the first time. "We are here because of this," Alida said, pointing to her sign that read, "See the world through your child's eyes . . . Choose Life."

A better choice

"We are here because we think it's important to take a stand," said Claudia Hamblin, 30, who is three months pregnant. "Abortion kills children and we want to raise that awareness. We are not just talking about a fetus; abortion is about the termination of a pregnancy and the killing of a human being. We are here because our mothers chose life."

Holding a sign that said "Justice for the Unborn," Claudia's husband, Warren Hamblin, 33, said he wanted to send a message to young people that they have to face up to the consequences of their actions.

"Young people want to have sex for the pleasure but don't want the outcome at the end, which is a child," he lamented. "A pregnancy is a joy, a celebration and I don't understand how people cannot want it. A child is what brings richness to the marriage."

Called International Life Chain, the one-hour demonstration was one of several taking place in communities across Alberta. Its purpose is to raise awareness about the fact abortion hurts women and kills children. Similar demonstrations took place in the rest of Canada and around the world.

The numbers this year were low compared with last year's demonstration, which attracted 250 people, and with the one in 2000, which attracted 500 people. Organizer Karen Richert of Edmonton Pro-Life said even though the declining numbers are worrisome, the demonstration still serves its purpose.

"You still send a message to the public in general that abortion is wrong," she said. "The people that drive by give you the thumbs up or honk, so obviously people are still concerned about the issue; it's not going away, people aren't happy with the way things are."

Richert, however, realizes numbers are important and wants pro-lifers to think about it. "If we had one person from each pro-life family in Edmonton commit just one hour to (Life Chain each year), the numbers would be overwhelming," she said. "Numbers speak to people. I really encourage people to put their feelings into action and commit to at least one pro-life event a year."

10,000 abortions a year

Sigrid Moosmann, 26, took part in the demonstration to make the statement that "life is precious" and that abortion does not just remove an embryo but removes a life. "Abortion Kills Children," read her sign.

She believes that demonstrations like Life Chain are effective because they make people think about the consequences of abortion . "I'm sure people think about it after they see us here. It sparks their interest (in the issue)."

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