Abortion protesters march on capital ci By MEGAN VMATZ Collegian Staff Writer 'WASHINGTON, D.O About 100,000 pro-life demonstrators from around the country gathered here yesterday in their fight against abortion, and received a pledge from President Reagan to continue working for the passage of a human life amendment. The President spoke by radio to demonstrators who had gathered north of the White House on the 13th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. Reagan said he will keep after Congress to end what he called the killing of thousands of unborn children each year. Thousands of men, women and children of all ages, races and creeds participated in the annual "March for . Life," which began on 17th Street and Constitution Avenue and proceeded along Pennsyl vania Avenue, past the. Capitol, to the Supreme Court Building where some met with congressmen from their area. The human life amendment would define human life as beginning at the moment of conception, making abortion murder. More than a dozen pro-life members of Congress spoke at a rally before the march, each promising that an end to legalized abortion is in sight. Rep. Romano L. Mazzoli, D-Ky., who has at tended every rally since the early 19705, told demonstrators that earlier this week the nation celebrated the first national holiday of Martin Luther King's birth with the words "We Shall Overcome." "I have no doubt that we and the right-to-life movement . . . We shall overcome," he told a cheering audience. Seven-month-old .Elizabeth Siljander stole the show when her father, Rep. Mark D. Siljander, R- Mich., held her up to the audience, saying, "This is why I'M pro-life." . . Many individuals carried a red rose symbolizing the pre-born child. Last year Reagan canceled the inaugural parade on Jan. 21 because of severe weather, but pro-lifers gathered the next day in slightly higher temperatures to participate in the march. Yesterday's temperature in Washington, however, was a balmy 59 degrees. The greatest response came, however, when Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., took the platform amidst tears and applause. Helms reported the progress of the right-to-life movement by telling of a pro-abortion senator who waved a computer printout in anger, saying 431 amendments and motions having to .do with abor tions were submitted to the U.S. Senate in the last nine years Helms said the senator was afraid "he and his crowd are going to lose" after a 46-46 tie on an amendment drafted by Helms and Sen. William L. Armstrong, R-Colo., to stop using taxpayers' mon ey to pay for certain abortions. "After the senator waved his computer printout, I rose and asked him if his computer printed how many unborn children had been slaughtered dur ing those nine years," Helms said. "The senator was irritated and his answer was, 'I thought the senator from North Carolina had a serious ques tion.' " That is the question the pro-abortion crowd is afraid to answer, Helms said. After the rally, waving banners reading "Killing babies is not the answer," and "Abortion no, adoption yes," the crowd broke into a• chorus of "Glory, Glory, Hallelujah," and proceeded on with the march. State nurses strike 140 health facilities By JANE KOPACKI Collegian Staff Writer About 777 medical personnel of the Pennsylvania Nurses Associa tion went on strike yesterday morning at 140 state-operated health facilities. Although the state is getting by, general hospitals are more apt to be trouble spots as opposed to other facilities such veterans' homes, prisons, mental health fa cilities, university clinics, or state health centers, said Mike Moyle, press secretary for Gov. Dick Thornburgh. Local facilities affected by the strike include the state correctio nal institutons at Rockview and Huntingdon, the State Health Cen ter in Bellefonte, the Philipsburg State General Hospital and the Holidaysburg Veterans Home. The state is continuing to "main tain business as usual," said state Welfare Department spokesman Mike Moyer. The vacated posi tions are being filled by supervi- the daily Anti-abortion demonstrators march down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Capitol yesterday after a rally near the White House. Sister Dorothy Monks of New York said she came to the march to get a deeper appreciation of the issues surrounding abortion. Her companion, Lauren Hanley, also of New York, said the movement should also concern itself with the care of children and the elderly. Although it was the first time for some demon strators, such as four girls from Seaton High School in Maryland who "just wanted to get out of school," others continually demonstrate against abortion in their communities. Bucks County residents Pat DePompeo, an Acme truck driver, and Ed Fleming, retired, are two such people. "Every Saturday we go to the clinic where they kill babies in Philadelphia," Depompeo said. "With the turnout we have each day, two or three girls turn around and go home." sors who cannot legally join the strike, Moyer said. Lorraine Fenton, local president of the PNA at Philipsburg State General Hospital, said that hospi tal administrator Joe Ross will be seeking an injunction against the nurses to force them back to their medical duties. She said 92 out of 95 union mem bers walked the picket line yester day, adding that the group is maintaining the picket line during normal daily shifts and at the changing of shifts. In the event of a long strike, the state would consider hiring re placement nurses or seeking an injunction to return the nurses to their jobs, said state Secretary of Administration Murray G. Dick man in a press release Jan. 15. "The issue of wages remains the obstacle to a settlement," he said. Other major issues between the Commonwealth and the PNA are scheduling rights, pay scales, tu ition reinbursement and vacation Please see Page 18 olle • ian U Li . . and rally in By NANCY FUNK Collegian Staff Writer While protesters marched in Wash ington, D.C., yesterday to voice their objections to the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion, 45 men and 16 women protested a pro choice celebration banquet on cam pus last night. "We are here to call attention to these people who are celebrating something as tragic as abortion," said protester Shawn Dryer. Yesterday was the 13th anniver sary of the controversial court deci sion Roe v. Wade, which declared laws banning abortion unconstitution al. The celebration banquet, held at the Paul Robeson Cultural Center by the Centre Countians for Choice and the State College chapter of the Na tional Organization for Women, sup ported the court decision, said Leeann Simons, co-organizer of the event. "We are pro-choice, pro-life, and pro-family," Simmons said. During the banquet, protesters car rying signs reading "Stop the Slaugh ter" and "Half the People Entering Abortion Clinics Never Come Out Alive" circled the center chanting "Stop abortion" and singing "We Shall Overcome." Simons said she finds it interesting that pro-choice organizations have never protested pro-life functions, that despite this, the protesters are entitled to their opinion. Tim Nichols, vice president of the pro-life organization, said the ban quet was "offensive to us who are convinced that life is sacred." "I'm tired of defending myself this is our time to celebrate," Simons . said. Nichols said although the banquet was said to be a celebration of free- BABY 3RAIN 8 OriWtk Fleming, who is 72 years old and has attended the march for four years, said that on Christmas he dressed as Santa Claus and stood outside the Northeast Women's Clinic in Philadelphia and begged the women seeking abortions to give him their babies. "Wouldn't you like your kid to see Santa Claus," Fleming asked the women. But most pro-lifers do not go to such extremes Donald Jory, chairman of the Oneita County Right-to-life in New York, works to prevent abor tions by providing alternatives to women contem plating abortion, and electing pro-life legislators. Jerry Maguire, a 1973 Penn State graduate from Grove City, said, "We're just making a statement to U.S. politicians. . .that we believe abortion is murder and must stop." Pro•life supporters protest at the Paul Robeson Cultural Center where pro•choice groups celebrate the freedom of choice at a banquet last night. dom of choice, he believes it was a celebration of abortion. "We are making a statement about the sanctity of human life it is inappropriate to celebrate abortion," Nichols said. The banquet, Simons said, was to celebrate women's ability to make a choice whether or not to have a child, not to celebrate abortion. Simons added that pro-choice activ- IS Mi. Mall*. Thursday, Jan. 23, 1986 Vol. 86, No. 115 18 pages University Park, Pa. 16802 Published by students of The . Pennsylvania State University ©1986 Collegian Inc. Pro-choice forces decry 'bogus' clin,ics By MEGAN O'MATZ Collegian Staff Writer WASHINGTON, D.C. Calling some pregnancy counseling centers "Christian mind enslavement cen ters," the Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights president said yes terday that anti-abortion advocates are operating "bogus abortion clin ics" around the country. Faith Evans, speaking at a news conference on the thirteenth anniver sary of the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion, said anti-choice individuals lure pregnant women into clinics promising free pregnancy tests and then pressure them into not having abortions. "We believe that the anti-choice movement has seized on developing these propaganda centers because they have failed to change law or public opinion," Evans said. "Their goal is to impose their narrow views onto women's lives and choices." The RCAR is composed of 30 major faith groups that have banded togeth er to preserve the legal option of abortion. Speaking from the pulpit of the Simpson Memorial Chapel in the United Methodist Building, Evans said that the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion freed women from "the slavery of having less than ad equate control over decisions affect ing their own bodies and lives." Evans said his mother was raised with few choices. "Before she was 21 she had nine children, separated from her first relationship, and became pregnant and deserted in New York City," he said. "Between the ages of 22 and 30 she had several more attached relationships, resulting in seven addi tional children who she found impos sible to emotionally and financially care for." Evans, who ran away from seven foster homes and raised himself on the streets of Brooklyn, said meeting his mother was a bitter experience that left him feeling she "had no choice." Claiming that RCAR's quarrel is not with the existence of anti-abortion counseling centers. but with the tac tics they use, RCAR's Executive Di rector Fredrica Hodges said the centers dispense grossly distorted Medical information. Hodges said women patronizing these clinics who are considering abortion are asked if they believe in J Cent r re • 1.3 ists have a narrow-minded, "hostage like" view of the abortion issue. "We hope that they don't disrupt our evening," she added. Nichols said Penn State Students for Life does not condone violence often a result of pro-life protests nationwide and will employ only non-violent methods of protest. Dryer said the organization is non religious and does not strive to con God and if God approves of the life styles they've chosen. "Given the diversity of faith per spectives on the abortion issue in our nation, no single individual should be presumptuous enough to attribute to themselves the power to interpret the Bible for others," Hodges told about 30 people in the narrow white chapel. She said anti-abortion clinics use biaSed counseling practices to change women's minds about abortions. "By using the lure - of a free preg nancy test these centers make pa tients feel obligated to watch anti abortion films and listen to counsel ors," Hodges said. "There is a deliberate attempt to exaggerate statistics in an effort to shift the focus of the discussion from abortion to the fears of sterility or even death." The RCAR has established an "ac cess preservation project" to develop a list of anti-abortion centers and urge the Yellow Pages to identify the operations under "anti-abortion counseling centers" rather than "birth control information" or "clin ics." Hodges added that the RCAR is establishing a network of victims who may testify if there is future legal action, although she said there are no legal proceedings at this time. While the news conference was going on thousands of anti-abortion demonstrators were gathering near the White House to participate in a "March for Life." Commenting on these demonstra tors, the Rabbi David Saperstein, co director of the Religious Action Cen ter Union of American Hebrew Con gregations, said the RCAR is "here to affirm the dignity of women; (the demonstrators) are here to impose psychological terror on women." "We're here to affirm truth and facts in intelligent decision-making, but they're here supporting clinics that disguise and distort the truth," he said. Yet some individuals participating in the "March for Life" have never heard of such "bogus clinics." "It's the first we've heard of such a thing," Maureen Marzen of Wilkes- Barre said. "It's news to me," echoed her friend Gloria Kruzel, also of Wilkes- But Mary Brink of Grand Rapids, Mich., advocated the use of such tactics. "I don't think false advertising is good but maybe it's the only way they can do it," said Brink. • .i.,,,,,,, ,•,..“111,1,44,,••,• ~ '••• - „f ;r4,f,:..-ei.on... A•tiv•:::,•)•, :-. ,43 , . 81 ZOW... ~....,,:„ V , ~,, ,-C..;04.,,1•if.01 , .:c.:',Wri! . • .),;,..'-',_,,. Y• :•Ak'c' .. 2fa . •.l4'.fT;z';:`: l 4;P r ctiti - ' f-t*'•'-'4t,',TV:,1,,:,.'•-•te "Ik.lii.i.:i'C,!;474l;:::lo.4','''ff:,. a.? , , , 1.';' 1 .41,`: -. ;•fi.• '-:;::::•', ,'',';1.t'..: ,. .A i;,:k '}#. ,--: ; , :''':,4,rf ; 4 4'.., ~...: '44re; 1). ...',4,f'' z i' t..- . 11 r1f.,. / : "0 - 1. , •:; 4, , ,, . Pi: '4', ''', -...1=', - .:: A' tt,rit.' 4 , . itAts'fQ : .'...'..- •:%:'. V,. 1f.,,1i, •':': . .1t . ::: , ' ,-. : . •: , '.• .' •. ..;,r)li t P . 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