Pro-life marchers remained calm Thursday afternoon in the face of aggressive, pro-abortion counter-protesters..A couple hundred pro-life attendees gathered in front of the Alberta legislature for the annual March For Life rally, which is described as “a peaceful and inspiring demonstration that gives witness to the beauty and dignity of every human person.”.Shortly before March For Life speeches began, a small but vocal group of pro-abortion protesters arrived and began playing music littered with cuss words and explicit lines about sex. They were joined by NDP MLA Janis Irwin. .Pro-life speakers invited counter-protesters to join in singing the Canadian national anthem, but pro-abortionists merely moved closer to the crowd and turned their music up..March For Life organizers told attendees not to engage with the protesters saying “that’s what they want.”.Still, pro-abortion advocates weaved throughout the crowd, yelling “my body, my choice.”.Several times, they screamed to drown out pro-life speakers, and yelled “no ovaries, no opinion" at men and boys in the crowd..They also stood in front of the March For Life speaker at several points while dancing around, posing for photos, and holding signs. One sign read “my abortion save my life.” Another pictured a uterus giving the middle finger with the word “mine.".Pro-abortion protesters declined to be interviewed by the Western Standard..Despite arriving with the counter protesters, Irwin was quick to physically distance herself from them. She told the Western Standard she wanted a peaceful counter-protest and said she'd asked the group to lower the volume of their music..Stephanie Fennelly from The Wilberforce Project, an Alberta pro-life political organization, appealed to pro-abortion protesters in her speech. Both groups are present because they care about women, but research shows that abortion harms women, she said..Women who choose abortion are “distraught” by their decision and require more resources and support, Fennelly said..Alissa Golob, the co-founder of Right Now, a Canadian not-for-profit committed to nominating and electing pro-choice candidates, referenced the Conservative leadership debate on Wednesday night. She urged attendees to register to vote for Leslyn Lewis — the only contender who's openly pro-life and desires legislation restricting abortion. Lewis is also the only female leadership candidate. .All five male contenders used the debate to "pander" about how "pro-abortion" they are, Golob said, calling them “mini Trudeaus.”.“They are supposed to be protectors of women and children, not aid in their physical and emotional destruction,” she said..After several speeches, attendees marched around the Edmonton legislature..The March For Life has been organized by The Alberta March for Life Association since 2008.
Pro-life marchers remained calm Thursday afternoon in the face of aggressive, pro-abortion counter-protesters..A couple hundred pro-life attendees gathered in front of the Alberta legislature for the annual March For Life rally, which is described as “a peaceful and inspiring demonstration that gives witness to the beauty and dignity of every human person.”.Shortly before March For Life speeches began, a small but vocal group of pro-abortion protesters arrived and began playing music littered with cuss words and explicit lines about sex. They were joined by NDP MLA Janis Irwin. .Pro-life speakers invited counter-protesters to join in singing the Canadian national anthem, but pro-abortionists merely moved closer to the crowd and turned their music up..March For Life organizers told attendees not to engage with the protesters saying “that’s what they want.”.Still, pro-abortion advocates weaved throughout the crowd, yelling “my body, my choice.”.Several times, they screamed to drown out pro-life speakers, and yelled “no ovaries, no opinion" at men and boys in the crowd..They also stood in front of the March For Life speaker at several points while dancing around, posing for photos, and holding signs. One sign read “my abortion save my life.” Another pictured a uterus giving the middle finger with the word “mine.".Pro-abortion protesters declined to be interviewed by the Western Standard..Despite arriving with the counter protesters, Irwin was quick to physically distance herself from them. She told the Western Standard she wanted a peaceful counter-protest and said she'd asked the group to lower the volume of their music..Stephanie Fennelly from The Wilberforce Project, an Alberta pro-life political organization, appealed to pro-abortion protesters in her speech. Both groups are present because they care about women, but research shows that abortion harms women, she said..Women who choose abortion are “distraught” by their decision and require more resources and support, Fennelly said..Alissa Golob, the co-founder of Right Now, a Canadian not-for-profit committed to nominating and electing pro-choice candidates, referenced the Conservative leadership debate on Wednesday night. She urged attendees to register to vote for Leslyn Lewis — the only contender who's openly pro-life and desires legislation restricting abortion. Lewis is also the only female leadership candidate. .All five male contenders used the debate to "pander" about how "pro-abortion" they are, Golob said, calling them “mini Trudeaus.”.“They are supposed to be protectors of women and children, not aid in their physical and emotional destruction,” she said..After several speeches, attendees marched around the Edmonton legislature..The March For Life has been organized by The Alberta March for Life Association since 2008.
