Nebraska Pro-Abortion Man Tries to Hit Pro-Life LifeChain Participants With Vehicle
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
October 8, 2008
Nebraska City, NE (LifeNews.com) — A pro-abortion Nebraska man upset that pro-life advocates were lining the streets of this eastern city drove his vehicle on the sidewalk and nearly came in contact with participants. The pro-life people were participating the in the annual Life Chain, silently holding pro-life signs opposing abortion.
Rex Peterson, 25, faces charges of terroristic threats after attacking the pro-life advocates with his vehicle.
Officials say Peterson drove his vehicle on the sidewalk, forcing three women to scurry away from where they were standing to avoid injury. According to court records police filed, Peterson hit the accelerator to jump the curb and continued for a half a block — nearly hitting nine people total before slamming his brakes.
The Nebraska City News Press indicates Peterson told police he had been drinking and did not intend to drive on the sidewalk, but witnesses say he and friends in his vehicle drove by the LifeChain 20 minute earlier honking and shouting obscenities.
Deputy Otoe County Attorney Tim Noerrlinger told the newspaper the passengers continued yelling at the pro-life people even after the vehicle jumped on the sidewalk.
After witnesses provided the description of the vehicle and its license plate number, police arrested Peterson at a rural residence.
Fr. Michael McCabe told the paper he and other pro-life advocates expected the profanity from abortion advocates but were worried about the vehicular attack.
“I was a little bit concerned with the overboard vulgarity , honking and screaming when they first came by,” he said. “Then when they came back and went on the sidewalk, I realized this was a serious, serious thing going on.”
The Life Chain includes pro-life signs such as, "Abortion Kills Children," "Abortion Hurts Women," and "Adoption, the Loving Option."
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