Pro-Life Advocates Condemn Attack on Pro-Life Arizona Man Over Abortion Sign

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Sep 21, 2009   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Pro-Life Advocates Condemn Attack on Pro-Life Arizona Man Over Abortion Sign

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
September 21
, 2009

Flagstaff, AZ (LifeNews.com) — Pro-life advocates are upset by an attack on a pro-life man in Arizona who was holding a pro-life sign that apparently upset two pro-abortion women. The attack came eight days after pro-life advocate James Pouillon was shot repeatedly and killed in Michigan by a man who didn’t like him protesting abortion at a high school.

In the new case, 69-year-old Johnny Wallace was attacked by two women as he held two pro-life signs condemning the racist undertones of abortion and Planned Parenthood.

Wallace was alone in front of City Hall on the busiest street in town at the time of the attack. He was known to take up position at the spot most every day to make sure members of the community were reminded of the problems associated with abortion.

His two signs read "Abortion kills more black Americans in four days than the Klan killed in 150 years," and "Life begins at conception and ends at Planned Parenthood."

Wallace was approached from behind by two women, both 48, who began by yelling profanities at him. One then attempted to take way and destroy his sign. After Wallace was wrestled to the ground, the other woman joined the attack.

Paramedics were called and Wallace was treated for minor injuries. He suffered an elbow injury that has required additional treatment, according to officials with the pro-life group Operation Rescue.

Both women were cited and released on misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and criminal damage.

Troy Newman, the head of the pro-life group, condemned the attack.

"Mr. Wallace was simply exercising his God-given rights as an American citizen when he was brutally assaulted because his attackers disagreed with his beliefs," he told LifeNews.com. "This attack is especially disturbing because the motivation for the attack on Mr. Wallace was the same motivation that caused Harlan Drake to murder Jim Pouillon."

"Recently there has been an increasing attitude that it is okay to hurt pro-life people if one does not agree with them. This disturbing trend must stop," Newman said.

"We are thankful that Mr. Wallace was not hurt worse than he was, and pray that the violence against pro-life activists will come to an end," he added.

Newman said Operation Rescue has received hundreds of threats and suffered three acts of vandalism on their headquarters in recent months and that the amount has increased following the shooting death of late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller.

"We cannot depend on pro-abortion groups to rein in their supporters," Newman said, adding that more pro-life people are needed to protest abortion in public.

"It is incumbent on the Christian community to come alongside pro-life activists all over the country and stand with them. There truly is safety in numbers," he continued. "We urge pro-life churches to take it upon their congregations to make sure that no pro-lifer stands on the street alone. Christians will find that this is an amazing ministry and evangelical opportunity that is spiritually energizing and satisfying."

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