Taylor Bembery
Blue & White Flash / Staff Writer
Students were greeted by graphic images of aborted babies, the lynching of a black man, and also the genocide of the Holocaust on the morning of Nov. 8 near the cross path of McAllister/Whiteside and Transitional Hall residence centers for women at Jackson State University.
Pro-Life activists posted the images from Operation Save America under the campaign of ‘States of Refuge’ and Life Link. Even though the organization was there to spread awareness about abortion, students were angered because they felt the activists were promoting everything but Pro-Life.
One female student who would like to remain anonymous was very angry about the views of the activist. She explained that she thought she would find comfort from one of the pastors associated with the organization because she had an abortion when she was 15-years-old; but she was shocked by his response.
The female student told the pastor her situation and got this response.
“Even though you go to church and talk to your pastor about your abortion, you’re still going to hell!” said Pastor Flip Benham, one of the Pro-Life activists.
“I’m very liberal about things and I feel like people should be aware about what happens during an abortion but to put up signs and to compare abortion to the lynching of African-Americans, to the genocide of the Holocaust, and the KKK is beyond ridiculous. Every woman has a choice, they shouldn’t be out here making women feel bad about the decisions they decided to make to their body,” said the female student.
Benham explained that women, specifically students feel as if they don’t have a choice when deciding what they are going to do about their pregnancy and how this Pro-Life organization can comfort and help them.
“There are several options for the mother, we can arrange plans for adoption; we’ll host a baby shower and make sure that they have a doctor to see the baby to term,” said Benham.
The graphic display was later moved to the JSU campus entrance at the roundabout of the Gibbs-Green Pedestrian Walkway. Tom Raddell, director of Life Link, explained why the organization was there to talk to students about abortion awareness.
“Universities are our place of education, so we are here to educate students. Abortion is touching kids in this age group and this is our first time here in Jackson so we decided to come to Jackson State University,” said Radell.
Even though the activists said they were at JSU to educate students, many JSU students said they felt offended by their views.
Tayo Miller, a senior psychology major from Bloomfield, Miss., was outraged because he felt the protesters were going against President Obama and that it is ironic that they came to JSU two days after the election.
“I think that if they are really here to talk about abortion, that’s what they should talk about! All of these signs that they have up…they are really trying to talk about religion and President Obama. They are trying to push their political views through another medium because abortion is a hot button issue; they are using it in a way to try to manipulate the people here to go against President Obama and the separation of church and state,” said Miller.
Miller also explained how the organization should not be out preaching to students about abortion because the majority of the group was all males.
“We see all these old men out here and one old woman with this organization. She has the right to say if abortion is right or wrong. I’m not going to say if abortion is right or wrong because I am a male. I don’t think that any male should be trying to make that decision or judge a woman because of their choice of abortion,” said Miller
Jazmyne Mack, a freshman biology pre-med major from New Orleans, La., is a student who is pro-choice and was also offended by the activists. “I am for abortion; it depends on your choice. I feel abortion should be recognized but all of these pictures are unnecessary,” said Mack.
Mack also added that she felt that racial prejudice was a big reason why the group was here.
“I was shocked to see this on campus, especially two days after the presidential election being that President Obama is black and he is pro-choice and for gay/lesbian marriage. The organization here is all white people. I feel as if them coming to a predominantly black university is very offensive but they said they will be back tomorrow,” said Mack.
Members of the organization were asked why they choose to come to JSU instead of other universities in the Jackson area. They said because it was the closest school to the Jackson Women’s Health Organization abortion clinic on 2903 North State Street, Jackson, Miss. In actuality the closest college campus to the abortion clinic in Jackson is Millsaps College.
Eric Stringfellow, Interim Executive Director of University Communications at JSU, explained why the organization was able to be on campus.
“Jackson State University upholds the right of organizations including Operation Save America to express their right to free speech,” said Stringfellow.
JSU wasn’t the last stop. Operation Save America Pro-Life activists set up their display on Nov. 10 near Veterans Memorial Stadium where JSU played Alabama A&M. Not only students were able to see the graphic and subliminal Pro-Life displays, but fans as well.
Tiffany Edmondson contributed to this story.
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