Pro-Life Group Protests at American Girl Store Over Abortion Ties

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Nov 28, 2005   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Pro-Life Group Protests at American Girl Store Over Abortion Ties Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
November 28, 2005

Chicago, IL (LifeNews.com) — A pro-life group led a protest on Friday at a Chicago American Girl store protesting the doll company’s ties to a girls group that backs abortion. Despite a nearly month-long boycott, American Girl is still working in partnership with Girls Inc., a youth group that supports Roe v. Wade.

Ann Scheidler, the director of the Pro-Life Action League said it chose Friday as the day of the protest because the "day after Thanksgiving is the busiest shopping day of the year."

She said the protest reached thousands of shoppers "with the unfortunate news that American Girl is funding Girls Inc., a group that strongly advocates abortion."

The demonstration including many pro-life girls who would normally purchase the hertiage-based dolls, which are popular nationwide. Instead, they picketed American Girl Place holding "Girls for Life" signs — along with their Samantha, Kit, Molly and other American Girl dolls, each holding her own miniature picket sign.

In August, American Girl launched the "I Can" bracelet program, pledging to support Girls Inc. with 70¢ for every $1 bracelet sold, plus a $50,000 donation. Girls Inc. supports abortion and opposes abstinence education, Scheidler’s group explained.

Girls Inc., which helps girls with scholastic and self-esteem issues, has defended its pro-abortion position.

It posted a message on its web site blasting the pro-life group for the boycott and saying "our mission to help girls develop their self-esteem and self-reliance has become the target of false, inflammatory statements from people who are pursuing a narrow political agenda."

Related web sites:
Pro-Life Action League – http://www.prolifeaction.org