I wish I 'd known about this event sooner!!!

Pro-Life Students Nationwide Take Vow of Silence Tomorrow to Highlight Abortion


by Steven Ertelt

LifeNews.com Editor         

October 18, 2010


Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Tens of thousands of pro-life students in high schools, middle schools and colleges and universities across the country will take a vow of silence tomorrow. They will refuse to speak to their friends and teachers because they are representing the voices of millions of unborn children killed in abortions.                 
The Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity, a project of Stand True that is now marking its seventh year is observed by students who want to stand in solidarity with unborn children who would otherwise have become their classmates.
With 52 million babies killed via abortions since 1973, an entire generation of students has been lost to abortion.
"By refusing to speak the students create a huge buzz and abortion will be the most talked about subject on campus," Bryan Kemper, Stand True's president, told LifeNews.com. "This generation is fed up with the senseless violence of abortion as is determined to bring an end the abortion holocaust."

Kemper says the event has not only changed hearts and minds on abortion but has resulted in at least 80 confirmations of students who decided against keeping an appointment for an abortion.

Students will not only remain silent; they will also wear red armbands and/or red duct tape on their mouths, and distribute educational flyers to anyone who asks why they are silent.

Home-school students will also participate in the event by visiting local malls and other public areas to distribute pro-life literature.
Students are instructed to be respectful to teachers and other officials and to speak with them when required.

The Pro-Life Day has the support of Students for Life of America, says Kristan Hawkins, the director of the collegiate pro-life organization.                                                                                 
  "Students for Life is proud to co-sponsor the Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity. It is critical that we, the pro-life generation, take a stand for Life in our society, and I can think of no better way than standing in silent solidarity with the millions of pre-born Americans who do not have a voice. We stand in silent solidarity with them so that through our silence, they may have a voice," she said.

Jeff White, founder of Survivors, a pro-life group for those born after the Roe v. Wade decision was handed down in 1973, also supports the event.

“As a father, youth leader and national pro-life leader, I believe we must give young people the tools to stand up for their faith and convictions," he said. “The pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity is one of the most effective avenues for young people to take a stand for the most important cause of their generation; the fight for life.”

Over the past few years, some schools have tried to stop students from participating and have tried to quash their First Amendment rights. Every year, attorneys from the Alliance Defense Fund defend these students and file lawsuits to protect their rights.

“Pro-life students shouldn't be discriminated against for expressing their beliefs. ADF and its team of more than 1,800 allied attorneys is ready to defend any students participating in this event who have their free speech rights violated on campus,” ADF Senior Counsel David Cortman told LifeNews.com.
“These students have the constitutional right to express their viewpoint on abortion just as other students have the right to express their views," he continued.
                                                                                  
TESTIMONY  from my friend Amy's  daughter who participated in a day of Silence at her school. I was so blessed by this 12 year old girl's courage to take a stand for those who were never able to . My only public schooled child was not able to praticipate herself due to a  Statewide Leadership Conference in which she was called upon ALL day to be doing presentations and interacting with other students and teachers. while in unifrom. She took opportunity to talk ABOUT the event and was excited  to hear about Caroline's experience.  From an email Amy wrote about her daughter:
 Caroline did awesome!!! She got stopped by a teacher immediately and asked what she was doing, so she showed them the sign, which she had made herself that said "Today I will be silent, only speaking when required. Today I will be silent in honor of those who have no voice. Today I will be silent for the 52 million babies killed by abortion". She went to 1st period, and this same teacher came and pulled her out of class. Another teacher was in the hallway and she asked the other teacher "Do you think this is appropriate for school?" She responded "no" and they sent her to the office. A woman Caroline has never seen took her into an office and asked her what she was doing and Caroline explained. She asked her if she thought she was disrupting her class and Caroline said "no". The woman told her it was okay to wear/do and sent her on her way. Caroline went the entire day without speaking. Apparently the janitor responded in a nasty way to her sign, but no one else did except some immature classmates. In fact a few students/teachers hugged her, patted her back, etc. It drew TONS of attention though, so Praise the Lord for that!!!

WE CAN  make our voices heard, even when we don't say anything at all! Things don't have to keep happening around us while we "feel helpless" . I have to confess, none of our other children participated in this event this year. When I heard about it , I shared what information I had. It was not a day that we were going to be "out and about" but next year I intend that we will be spear-headers for our community!!