Staff members of Students for Life of America approached American University staff and students outside of Glover Gate on Thursday, Oct. 8, to hold debates about abortion and spread pro-life messaging.
The organization has more than 80 staff members supporting 1,575 campus student groups. Anthony Clark, a member of Students for Life of America, said that the non-profit organization corresponded with AU College Republicans for about a month to set up this demonstration. A member from Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust, a youth pro-life organization that partners with Students for Life of America, was also present at the demonstration.
As classes got out, Clark held a white board to record people’s opinions on abortion.
“The question on the board is ‘Is abortion murder?’ We have four yesses and eight nos,” Clark said. “So it seems like it’s about two-to-one whether or not people here support abortion … and there’s also been people who don’t write on the board but they will walk by shouting inappropriate things at us.”
Clark pointed out that there was a small counterprotest on a street pole adjacent to Glover Gate with signs reading: “MY BODY MY CHOICE,” “Pro-woman, pro-child, pro-choice,” “Safe and Legal Abortion = pro-life” and “Abortion is healthcare.”
Clark acknowledged that it is rare for people to change their minds after one conversation, but said he believes tabling at different colleges can at least plant the seed and get people questioning their stance on abortion rights.
He added that, according to the National Library of Medicine, 96 percent of biologists agree that life begins at conception. The study, however, only classifies when a biological organism begins to exist and does not take a specific stance on the abortion debate.
When a passerby shouted at Clark that they were on their way “to get an abortion right now,” Clark responded with the sign of the cross.
“On average, 1 in 10 people will say ‘I think abortion is always permissible’ and then after a long conversation they will say I think abortion after viability is wrong, because that’s when the baby can survive outside the womb,” Clark said.
A student walking past asked Clark whether the organization worked with women, observing that those tabling were all men.
“No, we don’t have any women here today, but this is a human rights issue, not just a women’s issue,” Clark answered. “So we’re defending all human rights because the babies in the womb that are being killed are both male and female.”
According to Students for Life of America’s website, the executive team is made up of six women and one man.
Clark said that their advocacy goes beyond spreading messaging that favors banning abortion. Students for Life of America provides healing resources for those considering having an abortion or for those that have had an abortion. They also partner with organizations like Standing with You to share pregnancy resource centers and “pro-life health care,” housing support, therapy and pregnancy resource centers.
“Multiple of the members within our organization have had abortions in the past, and then they realized that it was wrong, and they were able to find healing through helping other women and providing resources,” Clark said.
Clark’s involvement with the organization started three years ago after being inspired by late conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Clark started setting up “Change my mind” tables on his own campus, Calhoun Community College in Decatur, Alabama.
“Even though obviously I would like everyone to be pro-life and for everyone to love and care for these babies at every stage of development,” Clark said, “if someone changes their mind from thinking that abortion is always permissible to thinking that abortion is wrong after viability, I would say that’s a win in my book, because I think that’s one more person who is genuinely and sincerely considering the rights of the preborn baby.”
This article was edited by Sophie Milner-Gorvine, Cara Halford and Gabrielle McNamee. Copy editing done by Avery Grossman, Arin Burrell, Jaden Maitland Anderson, Mattie Lupo and Abigail Jose. Fact-checking done by Luca Palma Poth and Josie Burnette.
