Anti-abortion activists assail Casey
Monday, January 11th, 2010
By: Scott Detrow
scott_detrow@pubradionews.net
Anti-abortion protesters disrupted an event sponsored by Democratic Sen. Bob Casey at the Pennsylvania Capitol today. Casey, who opposes abortion, says the Senate's health care bill would reduce the number of abortions in the United States.
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The event in the main rotunda was meant to highlight hunger and poverty in Pennsylvania, but as soon as Casey began to speak, a protester stood up to confront him.
Protestor: Do not trust this man! He's funded abortion in other counties – China, Africa and America. You can't feed the hungry if you kill them. Why are you killing children, sir?
Four people yelled at Casey, and Capitol police took them all away.
Afterward, Casey argued he's led the effort to make sure federal dollars aren't spent on abortion in the new health care bill.
He also backed a pregnant women's support fund and pushed for adoption tax credits.
Casey: Now some are not interested in reducing the number abortions, they just want to fight about the issue. I'm interested in reducing the number.
The protesters said they were from the group Insurrecta Nex, which labels itself online as a hard-line anti abortion group devoted to overturning Roe V. Wade.
The organization also picketed Casey's house in December.
The truly sad part of this story is that the real story was lost.
The event was about people who are experiencing hunger documenting and talking about their challenges getting adequate food as Americans and citizens of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Attending the event, it is was obvious that the Witnesses to Hunger exhibit was the created by Dr. Mariana Chilton to help these already devalued people find their voice. The protesters who disrupted the event disrespected these brave and courageous women.
I congratulate these families for allowing their stories to be heard. And I extend my thanks to Mrs. and Senator Casey for trying to bring the plight of our neighbors to light. In total, 49 million Americans, including nearly 17 million children, do not have access to sufficient amounts of food.