Niece of MLK, Jr., leaders of BlackGenocide.org, the Family Research Council, Frederick Douglass Foundation, Theology of the Body Institute, and others endorse CHRA
Washington, D.C. (09 March 2010) – Leaders representing the majority position of Americans are lining up to endorse an initiative that could reignite the pro-life movement to embrace a different way of looking at abortion and other threats against human beings’ lives.
It’s about the human rights of every human being.
That’s the message of the personhood movement and the California Human Rights Amendment led by black pastor and civil rights icon Rev. Walter Hoye.
Organizers have captured the same momentum that followed the California marriage amendment campaign to create a groundswell of support for the personhood amendment.
Dr. Jim Garlow, Proposition 8 leader and founding director of Pastors Rapid Response Team, said in his endorsement:
“Is it not amazing that we are forced, in our so-called advanced society, to defend the notion of personhood? Is it not shocking that supposedly bright people will not protect the most innocent and helpless person, the one in the womb? Have we not learned from slavery how to properly define a person? Have we learned nothing from Hitler’s Reich regarding the definition of personhood?”
“Other states should draw inspiration from the commitment and perseverance of those behind the California Human Rights Amendment. This is not about party affiliation or ideology. This is about recognizing the sanctity of human life and citizens’ obligation to enact laws to protect it” wrote Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council.
Likewise, Fr. Thomas Euteneuer of Human Life International applauded the California initiative: “Let’s start healing this national shame by affirming the personhood of every human being – in law – and start living as if we meant it.”
“Even as Dred Scott was considered less than fully human, such is the case for the preborn babies in the womb,” said Dr. Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the founder of King for America, in her endorsement of the CHRA.
Rev. Clenard Childress of BlackGenocide.org pointed out that human personhood is the crux of the nation’s struggle against racism: “Our prayer is that personhood would be restored to its proper place in the minds, hearts and legislation of America,” Childress said.
Other endorsers of the CHRA include Judie Brown, president of American Life League; Christopher West, Theology of the Body Institute; La Verne Tolbert, Ph.D., former Planned Parenthood board member, Georgia; Rebecca Kiessling, family law attorney, Michigan; Kurt Ramspott, Founder, Guys For Life, Inc.; Dana Cody, President and Executive Director, Life Legal Defense Foundation; Kristen L. Chestnut, RN JD, Member, Board of Directors, California Nurses for Ethical Standards; Dean Nelson, Executive Director, Network of Politically Active Christians and Vice Chairman, Frederick Douglass Foundation; Jennifer Roback Morse, Ph.D., Founder and President, The Ruth Institute; and David Bereit, National Director, 40 Days for Life and the California Republican Assembly.
American Life League was cofounded in 1979 by Judie Brown. It is the largest grassroots Catholic pro-life organization in the United States and is committed to the protection of all innocent human beings from the moment of creation to death. For more information or press inquiries, please contact Katie Walker at 540.659.4942.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
- California Human Rights Amendment: http://www.californiahumanrightsamendment.com/
- American Life League: Personhood http://all.org/personhood/
- LA Times: A new push to define ‘person,’ and to outlaw abortion in the process (28 September 2009) http://articles.latimes.com/2009/sep/28/nation/na-embryos-personhood28
# # #
