“More than 100 people stood on the side of Market Street Sunday, adorned with signs and banners. Among them was a small group of University of Akron students. They were not protesting the war, and they were not trying to raise money for their local public school.”
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More than 100 people stood on the side of Market Street Sunday, adorned with signs and banners. Among them was a small group of University of Akron students.

They were not protesting the war, and they were not trying to raise money for their local public school. The signs said Abortion Kills and God Save Our Country. The event, called the Life Chain, was a community demonstration against abortion.

According to student Jessie Houck, president of Students for Life, the tradition of creating a Life Chain, or a line down the street on the first Sunday of October, has taken place since abortion became legal with the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.

It is a peaceful and prayerful protest of the government’s decision to keep abortion legal, Houck explained. Our group used the hour we spent on Market Street as a time for reflection.

She said students also wanted to show the community of Akron the willingness of young people to participate in events which they believe in. This is the second year that Students for Life have participated in the Life Chain, although Houck has participated since 2005.

While the Students for Life did not face any type of conflict on Sunday, there were protesters to the anti-abortion protesters further down Market Street.

I only want abortion to be kept legal, Akron resident Thomas Reke, who was protesting the protesters for his second time, said. The government doesn’t have the right to tell people to make a moral decision.

The constitution dictates that each human is entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, Houck said when asked about the beliefs of Students for Life. I would say the first right is life.

Roe v. Wade took away the right of personhood from an unborn child, whereas we believe that life begins at conception.

The Students for Life group has been in existence since April 2006, founded by Jessie Houck and Julie Hritz.

Students for Life was founded to create awareness in the University of Akron community about abortion, Houck said.

In addition to the Life Chain, Students for Life also sponsored an anti-abortion exhibit, displayed on Monday in the Quad near Bierce Library. The Genocide Awareness Project compares abortion to genocide.

Just as the Nazis exterminated their undesirables, are we exterminating our undesirables – unborn babies, said Houck. We want to stir discussion – we’re not trying to gross people out, but we want to put a face to abortion.

In addition to the Genocide Awareness Project, the Students for Life participate annually in the January march held in Washington D.C. to mark the historic decision of Roe v. Wade, as well as other functions. They meet every other Monday night in the Student Union.

We’re not here for religious purposes, we’re here as Americans fighting for unborn Americans, Houck said.

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” #1.1361714:1871749674.jpg:20071009_humanchain.jpg:Students and families lined Market Street Sunday with large signs.:Melissa Dunfee”