Pro-Life Freedom Rides Featuring Black, Catholic Leaders Just Weeks Away

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jul 6, 2010   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Pro-Life Freedom Rides Featuring Black, Catholic Leaders Just Weeks Away

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
July 6
, 2010

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — Organizers of the Pro-Life Freedom Rides are weeks away from what they hope will be an event that can draw African-Americans into the pro-life movement and shift the culture towards life. Drawing on the freedom rides of the civil rights era, the new rides focus on legal protection for unborn children.

The Freedom Riders of 1961 made history as they took their lives in their hands to protest the injustice of segregation. The Freedom Riders took their action to test a Supreme Court ruling that struck down segregation laws.

Alveda King, niece of Martin Luther King, and the head of outreach to the black community for Priests for Life, will lead the first Pro-Life Freedom Ride on July 24.

The ride will take place from Birmingham, Alabama to Atlanta, Georgia. Pro-life people are welcome to caravan in their own vehicles behind the Freedom Ride bus, which will depart Birmingham midday on the 24th and arrive in Atlanta late that afternoon.

“The theme of the pro-life movement is, indeed, freedom,” King said today in an email to LifeNews.com.

She added: “How can one be free if one is not alive? How can any movement call for equal rights if the most fundamental right, life, is not secured equally? That’s why we are calling people from across the religious, ethnic, and political spectrum to ride with us for freedom for all, including the unborn.”

Fr. Frank Pavone, the national director of Priests for Life, said pro-life advocates are welcome to hold pro-life freedom rides in their own community — saying they’re just as important as the one King will lead.

“The Freedom Rides call people across America to activities that free people from ignorance about abortion, that free moms and dads from the despair that leads to abortion," he said.

He said the rides also "free those who have had abortions from the burden of guilt and shame" and "free our nation from unjust laws, and that free our unborn brothers and sisters from the violence of abortion.”

After the event, King and the pro-life leaders will head to the Jubilee Fest, a "Christian Woodstock" featuring music, ministry, camping and more.

King will join her colleague, Father Denis Wilde, an associate director with Priests for Life, along with worship leader Dr. Ron Kenoly; Dr. David Jerimaiah, Dr. Josh McDowell; and "many talented speakers, comedians, artists and musicians of every Christian style."

"Coming right after our Pro-Life Freedom Rides on July 23," Jubilee Fest is a wonderful part of the summer campaign for Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness that is moving across America," King said.

Some of the other pro-life leaders involved in this historic event include: Dean Nelson, Rev. Clennard Childress, Rev. Sam Mosteller, Rev. Stephen Broden, Day Gardner, Fr. Denis Wilde, Fr. Peter West, Jim Pinto and Christian recording artist Darrian Summerville.

Related web sites:
Pro-Life Freedom Rides – https://www.ProLifeFreedomRides.com

 

Sign Up for Free Pro-Life News From LifeNews.com

Daily Pro-Life News Report Twice-Weekly Pro-Life
News Report
Receive a free daily email report from LifeNews.com with the latest pro-life news stories on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here. Receive a free twice-weekly email report with the latest pro-life news headlines on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here.