NATION : Scores of Anti-Abortion Protests Scheduled for Coming Weekend
A Christian group announced plans today for scores of anti-abortion protests in the United States and Canada this weekend, and said its targets for the first time would include Planned Parenthood offices.
The Christian Action Council--whose founders in 1975 included C. Everett Koop, who later served as surgeon general--said that unlike recent protests by Operation Rescue that have led to hundreds of arrests, its fifth annual Pastors’ Protest Against Abortion will not include civil disobedience.
“These are lawful and peaceful protests,” said Thomas Glessner, executive director of the Protestant group based in Fairfax, Va. “We support the goals of Operation Rescue to end abortion in America. We differ on strategy.”
Glessner predicted that 50,000 people will participate in the action, saying he expects that interest will be heightened by the Supreme Court decision in July that will allow states greater authority to restrict abortions.
The CAC said it has confirmed 100 protest sites in 40 states and expects demonstrations at 12 Canadian locations. The groups said that most of the protests will be on Saturday but that “a few” will take place Friday or Oct. 7.
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