Pro-life activists hold rally in Bridgeport

Bridgeport, Conn. (WTNH) - Several hundred people turned out in Bridgeport Saturday to speak out against abortion, however, the message was not well-received by all.

Last week the pro-life rally was curtailed due to the snow. This week there were no such problems, as those in attendance say their numbers are growing.

Numbers that include, the 50,000 families that support the Family Institute of Connecticut, one of the state's largest pro-life activist groups.

"More and more people are describing themselves as pro-life," said Peter Wolfgang. "We are going to get to the day when we overturn Roe v. Wade and that's what this event is about. That's what events across the country are about."

The Saturday rally organized by the Family Institute of Connecticut was heavily influenced with a religious overtone. The message was one of condemning the killing of an innocent life.

"God hates murder," said Marilyn Carroll, of Milford. "Those babies are made in his image. He commands us to rescue the innocent from slaughter, so we are just being obedient to God's word."

With political arguing points as well, the ralliers believe they continue to move toward a majority opinion in the streets and on many governmental fronts.

"We are the side of the Declaration of Independence," said Wolfgang, "of Martin Luther King, of We the People and we want the country and the state of Connecticut to know that the unborn are part of We the People."

Standing nearby in front of a women's health facility, were four members of the pro-choice side. The clinic was shut down for the day so patients could avoid possible conflict. However, the silent minority wasn't about to back away from an apparent stand-down with the pro-life activists.

"I don't really have anything to prove," said Rebecca Willman. "I just want to stand up for my patients because they don't have the opportunity to speak out. They are silenced, they are shamed. So if we can offer the opportunity to stand up and be peacefully pro-active, that is the best course of action."

It's now been more than 39 years of Roe v. Wade being Law, but as was evident Saturday it hasn't done much to close the great divide between pro-life and pro-choice.