The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
EVENT OFFERS ‘SILENT WITNESS’
Lake County Right to Life supporters urged to take cause to new level
About 25 people withstood the bitter cold Jan. 14 to stand with anti-abortion signs on Route 20 in Mentor for Lake County Right to Life’s annual Winter Life event.
While 30 minutes in the frigid temperatures may seem a sacrifice, keynote speaker Aaron Baer exhorted the crowd that gathered afterward at St. Mary’s School gym to do more.
“We have to push back against apathy,” said Baer, president of Citizens for Community Values. The Warren native’s organization serves as Ohio’s Family Policy Council. “We still have a crisis in Ohio. Nearly 22,000 children are being aborted in Ohio (each year).”
He said that is down by about 6,000 abortions annually since 2010 — a statistic he linked to the election of Gov. John Kasich. He referenced the recent signing of a bill banning Down syndrome abortions among other victories.
“Our work isn’t done until abortion is unthinkable
"Our work isn’t done until abortion is unthinkable in Ohio." — Aaron Baer, president of Citizens for Community Values
in Ohio,” said Baer, adding that he prays for his home state daily. “Why would God bless our nation if we’re killing hundreds of thousands of children every year.”
He gave some practical steps to get more involved, including prayer, contacting state and local government leaders, running for office, supporting “prolife” candidates, donating to organizations like Lake County Right to Life and helping women in crisis pregnancies.
Such women serve as motivation for Ashtabula resident Kim Stein to attend the Mentor event each year. She and her three daughters were among those who braved the cold.
“(My reason) used to be more for the babies,” she said. “Now it’s the moms. I’ve seen the damage that can be done … friends of my age that have had abortions. I see the suffering. (I want to) let them know that help is out there and care is available.”
Her daughter, Alexis, 19, said she takes part to highlight that there are alternatives to abortion.
“It spreads awareness in a respectful and quiet manner,” she said.
The aftermath of the Jan. 12 snowstorm kept outdoor participants from doing the usual march along Route 20 with their signs.
The group used to meet in a parking lot at Great Lakes Mall and walk to St. Mary’s, but that was discontinued after BJ’s Brewhouse was built in the mall parking area.
The event usually attracts 150 to 200 people, depending on the weather, Executive Director Jacqui Fetsko said.
She noted that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court Roe v. Wade ruling legalizing abortion. That was the catalyst for Lake County’s annual march, which she termed a “silent witness” to passersby.
“There’s been over 60 million babies killed in our country alone since then,” she said, adding that the changing political climate is a call to action.
“We want our grassroots group to get more involved, kick it up a notch, and make their voices heard.”