NYC: Microcosm in the Fight for Life

Statue_of_LibertyNew York City…the Big Apple…home of the Statue of Liberty…

Give me your tired, your poor
Your huddled masses yearning t
o breathe free

…Abortion capital of the United States

The events unfolding in New York City are telling a tale that calls us all to stop and take notice. In January, the Health Department released figures showing that 41% of pregnancies in New York City end in abortion. Many were genuinely shocked and rightfully ashamed of this truth.

As discussed in a previous post, the statistics for African American women are even more saddening, with nearly 60% of pregnancies ending in abortion. In an attempt to share this truth with the public, a billboard was placed in Manhattan to beg the question why? Why are so many children being lost?

The controversially true billboard was promptly removed in the interest of keeping the peace. Strange since  New York normally applauds itself on its open-mindedness, but as Clyde Haberman wrote in the New York Times earlier this week:

New York, never at a loss for self-congratulatory words, regards itself as the most tolerant of cities, a place where one may exp

ress any thought freely. It is true. In New York, one may articulate any idea whatsoever — as long as that idea parallels popular opinion.

Stray too far from generally accepted wisdom, though, and you are asking for trouble.

Now for the kicker. On March 1, the Chiaroscuro Foundation released polling on attitudes of New Yorkers. The result:  64% of New Yorkers think that the city’s abortion rate is too high and 74% believe that the abortion rate for African American women is too high. More than half of those surveyed would support a 24-hour waiting period for abortions and 63% showed support for parental consent for those under age 18. The entire survey is available at www.nyc41percent.com.

The controversially true billboard w

as in line with public opinion! As Thomas Peters noted, this is a great tool of the pro-abortion crowd. They have ways of making those of us opposed to abortion think that we are in the minority. Now we have concrete proof – at least in New York – that it is just not true. A majority of people are alarmed by the high rates of abortion. Now it’s time to do something about it.

The Chiaroscuro Foundation is leading the charge and asking Mayor Bloomberg to be a part of the solution. The formal request is posted on 41% website and calls on the mayor to release more data about abortions and to release all the data in a more timely manner so that efforts to curb abortion can be effectively directed to those communities in greatest need. And they are taking their request of the mayor to the public through a citywide ad campaign.

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At the same time — and this goes to show that the fight for Life is fought on multiple fronts at once — a bill was approved yesterday requiring crisis pregnancy centers to tell potential clients whether they provide abortion and emergency contraception, and whether there is a licensed medical professional on the premises. City

council members, many of whom applauded the removal of the billboard mentioned above, say they passed this legislation in order to make sure that women “are fully informed and are not deceived” (New York Times, 03/02/11).

As the crisis pregnancy center representatives point out, the bill is unfair because it does not place the same restrictions on Planned Parenthood or other abortion providers. Similar legislation has been struck down by federal courts. However, if Mayor Bloomberg signs this bill into law, the short-term effects on crisis pregnancy centers may be severe. And the abortion rates may in fact increase…despite the attitudes of a majority of New Yorkers.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

This NYC legislation, as the New York Times reports, gained momentum after New York’s NARAL chapter released a study on the deceptive practices of crisis pregnancy centers. Here is where we unexpectedly  find some hope.

Planned Parenthood has been exposed. Planned Parenthood clinics have shown a willingness to aid and abet sex traffickers. Planned Parenthood clinics have been shown negligent with respect to reporting statutory rape in accordance with state laws. Planned Parenthood clinics have provided misinformation to women about the babies growing inside of them.

There is legislation pending to end taxpayer funding of abortion. It will bring an end to the flow of millions of dollars from taxpayer pockets to Planned Parenthood, a deceptive and corrupt organization.

Defund Planned Parenthood. The time is now. Call your members of Congress today.

A majority of Americans are opposed to taxpayer funding of abortion. We are the majority. And together we can make a difference.

We can lower the abortion rate in New York City and across the country, saving lives by ending federal funding of Planned Parenthood.Spoof_ad

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