Stop Killing the Dream
Martin Luther King Jr. once described his dream that “my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
In direct contrast to this dream, Planned Parenthood has targeted its services to those of particular skin colors, with the result that minorities are disproportionately affected by abortion. What’s the leading cause of death among African-Americans? Heart disease? Stroke? Cancer? Abortion? If you guessed abortion, you’re correct. Abortion accounts for more deaths among African-Americans than the seven next-most common causes of death.
Students on our campus are gathering together to change this grim reality, and help increase the life expectancy of all African-Americans.
Illini Collegians for Life (ICFL), an RSO dedicated to sponsoring a culture of life on campus, recently sponsored a viewing and discussion of the film Maafa 21. This film documents the racist agenda motivating Planned Parenthood to target minorities by, among other things, overwhelmingly locating its clinics in minority neighborhoods and accepting donations earmarked for minorities.
ICFL is also sponsoring the local initiative of 40 Days for Life. Students and other community members, now through April 4th, are gathering at the local Planned Parenthood clinic to pray and fast. Some hold signs with pro-life messages, others pray the rosary, while still others provide sidewalk counseling.
Since this clinic focuses on abortion services and does not offer prenatal counseling or services, sidewalk counselors often tell those entering the clinic about other local organizations such as Living Alternatives and Birthright that provide free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, prenatal counseling, and maternal and infant clothing.
As a result of 40 Days for Life initiatives, and consistent efforts of dedicated sidewalk counselors throughout the year, numerous women have decided against abortion. One woman who several years ago decided not to go through with her abortion recently told a sidewalk counselor that whenever her little boy puts his arms around her and tells her he loves her, she knows she made the right decision.
May other children be given a chance to live out Martin Luther King’s dream.