A bus shelter advertisement provided a uniquely appropriate location for a third trimester “Choice” sign [Photo by EJS]
On Wednesday, April 12—Spy Wednesday of Holy Week, when the Church remembers Judas conspiring to hand over Jesus—the twenty dedicated Pro-Life Action League members hit the streets of downtown Chicago to launch the spring phase of the 2006 Face the Truth Tour.
The Tour group began at Wacker Drive and Madison Street for an “early bird” site, 7:30-9:00 a.m., showing the truth about abortion to the large crowds of morning commuters crossing the Chicago River from the Metra rail stations. Hundreds of pieces of literature were distributed and volunteers received more positive comments than usual, including e-mail messages sent to the League later that day praising the Tour and asking for information on getting involved in the fight against abortion.
A pair of pro-abortion counter-protestors with NARAL signs stood off to the side for a short time during the beginning of the Tour site. No other counter-protestors were seen that day.
Chicago Police Hassle Pro-Life Father
The second site of the day, along the west side of Lake Shore Drive near Buckingham Fountain, was marked by an unusually large police presence. Four of five police vehicles monitored the pro-life protest, including a suveillance van which parked for a while on the median of the Drive, apparently videotaping the scene.
A young couple looks at the League’s abortion signs as they walk by along Lake Shore Drive [Photo by EJS]
About an hour into the demonstration, a police seargent who had been circling the block over and over pulled up on the sidewalk and took objection to the fact that two signs were being held by pairs of children. Though he claimed to be concerned for their safey, his manner was usually beligerent for a Chicago police officer, and he seemed bent on leading their father, who had brought them on the Tour, into admitting he was acting irresponsibly.
Though nothing could be farther from the Truth—the children, one of whom is actually a teen, were several feet from flow of traffic and happen to be experience Truth Tour participants—Tour organizers decided to conclude this site early because of the intimidating behavior of the police. The League’s attorneys were alerted to the problem and are preparing to respond if this sort of police reaction is encountered again.
Truth Days To Continue Through the Spring
The League has scheduled Truth Days May 17 and June 14 at sites to be announced later. The major summer Tour will be held throughout Chicagoland and northeastern Illinois July 8-15.
