TFP Student Action says “NO” to Cecile Richards at Georgetown
Georgetown professor: “I actually teach abortion rights.”
Fourteen volunteers from TFP Student Action went to Georgetown University in Washington D.C. to deliver a firm message to its students and faculty: “No Platform for Abortion Apologists: Georgetown Can’t be Catholic and Collaborate with Planned Parenthood.”
Hundreds of fliers were distributed. The TFP leaflet contained five strong arguments, as well as statements of the popes against abortion, demonstrating why Georgetown should not allow Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood, to speak on the oldest Catholic campus in America.
The Pro-Life Campaign Begins
In usual fashion, the campaign of the TFP opened up with a public prayer and robust motto: "Tradition, Family, Property! America! America! America!
Initially, students were somewhat unresponsive to the campaign, especially amid the large tour groups strolling through the campus. However, during the first rosary many started to take interest.
Starting with mere passing remarks, bystanders approached the campaign. Some were supportive, others were hostile, but a great many of them – regardless of position – expressed respect for the conduct and civility of TFP Student Action campaigners.
This was in stark contrast to the pro-abortion counter-demonstrators who held blasphemous signs and shouted vulgar slogans -- too foul to include here.
Professor: “I actually teach abortion rights.”
At one point a Georgetown professor approached. She began to argue with TFP Student Action director John Ritchie. “If you believe in God,” he said, “you know that the Fifth Commandment teaches we should not kill innocent people. As a professor you should know that.”
“I actually teach abortion rights,” she retorted.
What does that say about Georgetown? It is nothing short of hypocritical for a university which claims to be Catholic and “committed to the sanctity and human dignity of every life at every stage” to have professors who teach abortion as a "right" in the classroom.
“Nazi Germany, ladies and gentlemen”
One man tried to brazenly place stickers that ran “Hoyas for Choice” on TFP volunteers as they prayed the rosary. After one particular member declined the pro-abortion sticker, the pro-abortion youth with the stickers made a facetious remark about the campaign. “Here we have Nazi Germany, ladies and gentlemen,” he said.
A TFP volunteer pointed out in response that the Nazis were pro-abortion and were subsequently on the side of the so-called “pro-choice.”
He responded: “So then you’re about taking away a woman’s right to choose, then?”
“This isn’t about choice, this is about protecting innocent life. The person who is most affected by the abortion is the child getting killed. If you can’t guarantee the most basic right, the right to exist, how can you guarantee any rights after that?”
The man went silent the rest of the campaign.
The Campaign Comes to a Close
As the afternoon progressed, the group of TFP members lined one side of the street and on the other, two pockets of opposition had emerged, one of which was comprised of pro-abortion people who were sulking after losing arguments against the volunteers and the other which was more active and vocal.
After thirty minutes of back and forth, as well as the completion of the third set of mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary, it was time to pack up.
Within minutes of Student Action’s departure, a rainstorm fell.
Perhaps the administration at Georgetown will be moved by this demonstration and the 12,828 students and parents who signed TFP's petition urging the university to cancel Cecile Richards’ speaking engagement.