 "Photo: Maddie Crum/The Daily Texan")
Abortion survivor Gianna Jessen got a crowd of more than 1,000 pro-life activists riled up Thursday night at the downtown Hilton Hotel, urging them to stand up for their beliefs.
“I didn’t survive an abortion so I can appease everyone,” she said.
Jessen, 32, has cerebral palsy as a result of a failed abortion procedure her mother underwent. She is a vocal anti-abortion advocate and was the featured speaker at the annual Texas Alliance for Life benefit dinner.
“I don’t have a weakness. It is an amazing weapon in the hand of God,” she said.
The organization’s goal was to raise a total of $250,000 total for the evening. Attendees made minimum donations of $65 per plate.
The alliance works to promote pro-life policies, push alternatives like adoption and restrict abortion availability in the state.
“None of what we’ve done or we hope to do can be done without your support. We will continue to make an impact in Texas,” said Joe Pojman, executive director of Texas Alliance for Life.
The organization has been one of the most active pro-life groups in Texas and has worked to influence public policy in the state.
During the 81st legislative session, the alliance supported the passage of a bill that would have required a mother to see an ultrasound of her unborn child before an abortion. The bill did not pass. They also pushed to withhold state funding from Planned Parenthood facilities in Texas and have advocated the use of adult stem cells for research over embryonic stem cells.
Pojman’s goal of shutting down Planned Parenthood drew loud applause from attendees. Eliminating state funding for Planned Parenthood is an ongoing effort of the alliance.
Planned Parenthood is in its 71st year in Austin and aims to improve public knowledge on reproductive health and the rights movement.
They also have clinics that provide screenings for a variety of disorders and can make referrals to abortion clinics, which have raised much controversy.
“We are both nonprofit, we both rely on donors and we both have similar goals and missions. We do, however, have significant differences as well,” said Sarah Wheat, vice president of community affairs for Planned Parenthood. “We believe birth control is important and we think that it should become a routine part of women’s health care. The main thing that divides us is that we think abortions should be legal.”
The question at this point is "what should our policy and attitude when contraception practices fail?" This is truly a life or death question.
Men and women need to think and take preventive measures so innocent lives aren't inhumanely exterminated,
esp. in a 1st world country with easy access to contraception.