Friday, May 15, 2009

Anti-Choice Protests Expected at Obama's Notre Dame Speech

Anti-choice activists opposed to President Obama's invitation as the University of Notre Dame commencement speaker are expected to protest his speech and honorary degree this Sunday.

Decried by some as a scandal, President Obama's visit has come under attack by anti-choice activists for his beliefs, and subsequent actions as President, on issues of abortion and stem cell research.

Although many students have rallied in support of his visit, Terry Randall and his Truth for Society and Justice organization plan to "make a circus" of President Obama's visit with graphic signs and arrests. While others are planning several peaceful prayer vigils, Terry defended his group's actions saying, "If Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks had played by the rules that these kids are proposing, Barack Obama would still be on the back of the bus."

Despite his attempts to remove the anger sometimes found in dialogues between pro-choice and anti-choice activists by discussing ways to reduce unintended pregnancies, Obama's invitation to speak at Notre Dame has reignited the debate.

Obama is expected to address the controversy during this Sunday's speech. What do you think he will say? Will his remarks reflect his pro-choice position on abortion or will he take the politically correct route and stay clear of fanning the flames? And where do the 2009 Notre Dame graduates fit into all of this? Is a graduation commencement the place for political action?

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Joe Raymond

1 comment:

Criss L. Cox said...

Oh, my lands!

"If Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks had played by the rules that these kids are proposing, Barack Obama would still be on the back of the bus."I'm no history major, but wasn't the very essence of MLK's movement PEACEFUL demonstrations?

Then again, was I expecting anti-choice extremists to be factual and rational? Silly me...