The Missouri Citizens for Life (MCL), perhaps the largest anti-abortion contingent in the state, immediately organized several "pro-life" events following Roe v. Wade. The following "partial reprint of a letter published by MCL" was included in an MCL informational flyer reporting on the success of a 30,000 plus gathering of "pro-lifers" in November of 1973, just 10 months after abortion was legalized. They demonstrated near the famous St. Louis Gateway Arch, across from the old courthouse. The anti-abortion movement frequently compared the outcome of Roe v. Wade to the Dred Scott decision, which took place in the old courthouse. Demonstrators gathered near the courthouse to symbolize their pleas for the "personhood" of unborn children, while comparing the situation of legal abortion to the denial of legal rights to slaves. Speakers at the demonstration included U.S. Senator Thomas F. Eagleton, Missouri Attorney General John C. Danforth (see Document 12), and Mildred F. Jefferson, a physician from Boston and Vice-chairperson of the Board of the National Right to Life Committee.
To: ALL FRIENDS FOR LIFE
From: The Members of MISSOURI CITIZENS FOR LIFE (An interdenominational organization)
We wish every pro-lifer could have been in St. Louis on the afternoon of October 21 to attend our Life Amendment March and Rally.
On a day that felt a lot more like June, 30,000 persons from all life styles walked in solemn procession from the Soldiers' Memorial to Kiener Park across from the stately Old Courthouse nestled under the Gateway Arch. Their cause---to affirm the right to life of all people of the United States of America and to have that right guaranteed by an amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
The Old Courthouse was chosen as the site of the rally for its historical significance. In its chambers, the famous black slave, Dred Scott, both lost and later won his pleas for "personhood" before his legal rights were ultimately rejected by the Supreme Court in 1857. This decision was later remedied by the 14th Amendment.
More than 100 years later on the steps of that same courthouse, U.S. Senator Thomas F. Eagleton, Missouri Attorney General John C. Danforth and Mildred F. Jefferson, M.D., Surgeon from Boston and Vice-chairman of the Board of the National Right to Life Committee, affirmed the principles of life, liberty, and happiness in equal measure for all---including the unborn.
(PARTIAL REPRINT OF A LETTER PUBLISHED BY MISSOURI CITIZENS FOR LIFE)
 |
|
|
|
Disclaimer: pages.slu.edu is a service of Saint Louis University, Saint Louis University does not control, monitor or guarantee the information contained in these sites. For more information » |