Lincoln Memorial’s Pro-Abortion Video Will be Changed to Correct Bias
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
December 31, 2003
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — After drawing criticism from pro-life groups for including footage of pro-abortion events in the videotape shown at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, the National Park Service has confirmed that it will change the video.
The 8-minute video, on public display since 1995, depicts images of a wide variety of events that took place at the Memorial.
As part of its update, the National Park Service plans to add scenes including rallies by pro-life groups and Promise Keepers, a Christian organization, to the video.
Bill Line, a spokesperson for the National Park Service said significant pressure for the change came from the office of pro-life Congressman Todd Tiahrt (R-KS).
In a letter to the National Park Service last February, Tiahrt objected to the portions of the video that depicts 16 seconds of footage from a NARAL pro-abortion rally. Tiahrt has been in frequent contact with the park service since the letter, Line said, in order to ensure that changes were made.
Pro-life groups say a call from the White House may have prompted changes to the video as well.
However, others aren’t so happy with the decision.
"The Park Service leadership now caters exclusively to conservative Christian fundamentalist groups," Jeff Ruch, director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), a liberal group said in a news release.
Line disputed the charge and said the changes were made in the tape to make it "more balanced."
Some of the visuals included signs and banners reading "National Organization for Women," "I Had An Illegal Abortion In 1967 – Never Again," "Keep Abortion Legal," and "I Am Pro-Choice America."
Related web sites:
Lincoln Memorial – https://www.nps.gov/linc
