Terri Schiavo’s Supporters Step Up Protests, Will Picket Michael’s Home

Bioethics   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Feb 17, 2005   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Terri Schiavo’s Supporters Step Up Protests, Will Picket Michael’s Home Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
February 17, 2005

Clearwater, FL (LifeNews.com) — Pro-life advocates are heading to southwest Florida to support Terri Schiavo just days before her estranged husband Michael may have another chance to remove her feeding tube and starve her death.

Earlier this week, Terri’s parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, called on pro-life activist Randall Terry to organize grassroots action on Terri’s behalf. He’s responded by organizing dozens of pro-life advocates.

"We will fight for Terri with every ounce of strength we have, and we still have many ounces," Bob Schindler said at a press conference Wednesday.

Terry’s group will start with protests at the home and workplace of Terri’s estranged husband Michael Schiavo.

"The gloves are coming off with Michael Schiavo," Terry said, adding that he hopes the protests will "wear down his will."

The protests will expand to include any medical facility where Terri’s tube may be removed and will include the governor’s office and state capitol in Tallahassee.

Standing outside the hospice where Terri lives, Terry also said he would unleash an "avalanche" of letter and email campaigns, and other activities on Terri’s behalf.

Terry also is putting pressure on Florida Governor Jeb Bush to get involved again to help Terri.

The courts rebuffed his earlier efforts and declared unconstitutional a law the legislature passed allowing Bush to ask doctors to keep the feeding tube in place. Still, the governor says he will do everything legally possible to help out.

"I’ll do what the law will allow me to," Bush said Wednesday night.

Bush spokesman Jacob DiPietre told the Associated Press, "The governor has never stopped looking for ways he can save Terri within the confines of the law."

Euthanasia advocate George Felos, who is Michael’s lead attorney, told the Sun-Sentinel newspaper that he doesn’t believe the legislature can do anything else to protect Terri.

"I think the Legislature knows that, and anything they would pass would be unconstitutional," Felos said. "And given the situation that happened last time, I would think the Legislature would be very reluctant to enter these waters again."

Felos indicated Michael would not be intimidated by the protests or letter-writing campaigns.

"All I can say is that I know Mr. Schiavo is dedicated to carrying out his wife’s wishes, and I believe he is going to do that, notwithstanding these threats," Felos said.