Spring Break
Unity takes on abortion protesters
Chelsea McDougall
Issue date: 5/3/06 Section: News
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This sparked the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered organization on campus to form its own protest. Members of Unity strategically placed themselves on a rainbow-colored blanket in front of the anti-abortion protesters.
Embie Archer, senior English major and Unity president, was there to peacefully protest against what the anti-abortion group was saying and doing.
"Unity and all the other allies on campus are here to have a peaceful protest showing that the Bible is about acceptance and tolerance and love and not about perpetuating hate," Archer said.
According to Archer, a member of Unity walked by and called other members and rallied them to come to the protest. "We're hoping that by having a different perspective, people are going to see that there is love and there is tolerance and that it's not about perpetuating hate, it's not about showing sins, it's about loving one another," she said.
Archer added the man, Dan Holman from Keokuk, was holding up graphic signs and yelling at people, saying they are going to hell.
"We just (had) a peaceful blanket that we (were) sitting on and hand(ed) out information for those who want to accept it," she said.
Archer said she was personally told she was going to hell by Holman.
Some interested students stopped to watch the protest.
Steve Humphrey, senior recreation, park and tourism administration major, said there was no need for the anti-abortion protest group to be on campus.
"(Between) 49 and 50 states have already decided that message that (abortion) is legal; it's a little much," Humphrey said.
Holman explained his reason for being on campus.
"I'm speaking up for babies that are being aborted," he said.
Holman said his shirt represented his beliefs.
"It's a mixed message, but they all have to do with God's law. God condemns sodomy along with baby murder and that is the ultimate authority," he said.
Holman said he received both opposition and support from people passing by.
Tommie Sawyer, junior recreation, park and tourism administration major, said she was upset by the anti-abortion protesters because it exposed children to images they were not prepared for.
"There were tons of little kids walking by, it was very uncalled for," she said. "The teachers were yelling to have them put their signs down."
Sawyer added she is pleased with Unity's counter-protest. "(Holman is) protesting gay people and I am glad there are people coming in and taking charge. He's obviously doing this to get attention and to get people riled up."
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