National Life Chain Demonstration Peacefully Supports Pro-Life Issues
Matt Bardelli
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Approximately 283 people came together to support pro-life issues in a peaceful manner on the streets of St. Louis. Among the participants were students from Saint Louis University and other local schools.
The demonstrations took place at three locations throughout the St. Louis area and had no key speaker or leader. Participants came and stood beside the streets and silently displayed their signs bearing phrases such as “Abortion Hurts Women” or “Abortion Kills Children.”
Passive, nonforceful tactics characterize the Life Chain gathering. A “code of conduct” is even handed out to all those who participate. Throughout the nation, the demonstration lasted only one hour.
Jana Evers and Angela Shierek, the co-presidents of the Students For Life club, were present, bearing banners in support of anti-abortion issues. According to Evers, “The purpose of the organization [Students For Life] is to educate the campus about pro-life issues.”
Other SLU students, like Casey Glueck, have participated in similar events. Glueck helped her grandfather, Charles Drury, organize a campaign against abortion called the Cemetary of the Innocent.
Senior Tim Chik, the Pro-Life Coordinator for the Cardinal Glennon College Seminary, also coordinates a group of students who go out every Saturday to pray for these kinds of issues.
“This is one thing I feel strongly about. It’s a unity of all Christians for pro-life issues,” Chik said.
Approximately 100 churches were involved as well. According to Father Bernard Wilkins of St. Mary Magdalene of Brentwood, “The life chain is an interdenominational hour of prayer for abortion. It’s not really an organization, but a movement that started in 1973.”
The diversity of people at the demonstration was marked. Parents, children, young and old joined in support of a common goal.
Judy Maichel, a mother of four and a volunteer for Hope Lutheran Church, said, “The goal of this demonstration is to increase the awareness about the negatives of abortion.”
Several local grade schools were out supporting the National Life Chain. Cathy Davis, a fifth grade teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes in University City, said, “We figured it’d be more appropriate if children held the banners.”
Unfortunately, the weather was not very cooperative, but the brief rain showers did not seem to interfere with the overall success of the gathering.