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A small group of pro-lifers demonstrated on High Street in Westwood on September 26, 2021.
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On Sunday, September 26, 2021, a small group of five to six pro-life Catholics, made up of teens and adults from three different parishes in Westwood and Dedham, gathered on High Street to demonstrate in favor of the pro-life cause.
As cars drove by, the group held up signs reading, “Life is a Human Right,” “I am the Pro-Life Generation,” and “Pray to End Abortion.”
The demonstration was an attempt to raise awareness of and support for the pro-life movement, says organizer Gabriel D. (who prefers not to provide his last name), a 2021 Westwood High School graduate. He calls the demonstration a “standout,” inspired by pro-life advocate and radio host Jim Havens who encourages people to “stand out for life” in their communities.
This most recent standout was Gabriel’s eighth. His first experience with pro-life demonstrations was last year in front of a polling location during Election 2020. He has recruited friends to join, and since April this year, has decided to make standouts a monthly event.
Gabriel D.'s first standout was on November 3, 2020 outside a polling location in Dedham on Election Day.“I encourage people in this area who are pro-life not to be afraid to share their beliefs and not to be afraid to put them in practice. Abortion is the greatest civil rights issue of our time and it’s not going to go away if we ignore it,” he says.
There are some positive and some negative reactions with every demonstration, says Gabriel. Passersby on the sidewalk or in cars have responded, “My body, my choice,” indicating their disagreement, while others have honked and waved from cars and have thanked him, in support. He has also been on the receiving end of harsher reactions, such as when people shout or show him a middle finger. In Westwood, people have shown disagreement with his stance, but he has never felt threatened.
Gabriel’s goal in the standouts he organizes is not to change people’s minds “out of the blue.” So far, he says that no one has approached him at a standout to attempt a real debate. More thoughtful discussions, Gabriel believes, are best held with friends and family, and one-on-one with colleagues from work. He appears to believe that on such a passionate and divisive issue, it can be hard for strangers with different entrenched beliefs to have a productive conversation.
Rather, through standouts, Gabriel wants to show pro-lifers that they are not alone and he wants to make people think twice about abortion.
“My main goal is to spread awareness of the abortion issue in our country. . . . It’s not talked about often even in our churches. By standing out here we hope to remind people that this issue isn’t going away and that everyone has a Right to Life.”
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Gabriel became interested in the pro-life movement at age 15, after reading about abortion methods. With the support of his family members, and together with his godfather, he got involved in the organization, 40 Days for Life. The organization describes itself on its website as an international campaign “to end abortion locally through prayer and fasting, community outreach, and a peaceful all-day vigil in front of abortion businesses.”
“It does take some dedication as well as courage to go to a street corner and demonstrate for a cause that many people are against. But once you get past the initial hesitation, it’s very fun and rewarding,” he says. At September's demonstration, the demonstrators brought equipment to play music and prayed the Rosary.
A recent Gallup Poll containing current and historical trends on public perceptions of abortion and a 2021 AP-NORC poll show that public opinion is nuanced. Views at either of the extreme ends of the spectrum - that abortion should be legal in all cases or that abortion should be illegal in all cases - constitute minority views.
The support is highest for abortion in the first trimester and when the context includes rape, incest, or a serious health concern to mother or baby. There is a sharp drop in support for abortions after the first trimester and when "the woman does not want the child for any reason" or "[t]he woman does not want to be pregnant for any reason."
On whether respondents would like to see a change in the current state of the law, 33 percent responded they are satisfied with the status quo, 27 percent want stricter rules, and 17 percent want less strict laws.
On December 1, 2021, the United States Supreme Court will hear arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health regarding whether to let stand Mississippi's law that prohibits performing abortions beyond the 15-week gestation period. A 15-week gestation period is just beyond the first trimester of about 13 weeks. The High Court will also hear argument on whether viability outside the womb is the appropriate test for determining whether or not an abortion may proceed.
Thanks to Gabriel D. for being interviewed for this article.
