South Dakota Pro-Life Display Vandalized, Recalls 2006 Attacks on Abortion Ban
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
September 8, 2008
Sioux Falls, SD (LifeNews.com) — A pro-life display in South Dakota featuring crosses to memorialize the deaths of babies from abortions has been vandalized by abortion advocates. The vandalism is a reminder of the rash of attacks on signs and displays during the battle over the abortion ban in 2006.
With a second attempt to ban abortions on the November ballot, South Dakota could see more attacks on pro-life activities.
The display in this incident, sponsored by Lutherans for Life of South Dakota, was set up at Blessed Redeemer Lutheran Church on 705 Sioux Blvd. Reports indicated the pro-life display was vandalized sometime on Wednesday evening.
The memorial features 748 crosses, which represent the number of abortions done in South Dakota in 2006.
“Apparently, some people are threatened by the message of this,” Pastor Dan Deardoff told the Argus Leader newspaper. “My door is always open, and I just wish people would come and talk to us if they have differences.”
The paper indicated the Brandon Police Department has the vandalism under investigation.
"If anybody has any knowledge, they should contact us directly or contact Crime Stoppers if they wish to remain anonymous,” Chief Dave Kull told the newspaper.
Then, vandals spray-painted the South Dakota State University (SDSU) Newman Center building along with a pro-life sign out front. Vandals sprayed a "female symbol" on the traveling pro-life sign and painted “No Iraq War” on the church exterior.
Father Rutten, director of the SDSU Newman Center, said crosses set up to memorialize the deaths of babies who had died from abortions, were vandalized earlier.
Before that, Leslee Unruh, the head of the group promoting the abortion ban, said her house has been plastered with eggs and she’s been mailed coat hangers by those who claim women will die from illegal abortions.
Unruh has had threatening calls in the middle of the night, hate mail and her favorite coffee shop told her to stop coming in because of the problems.
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