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Large Prayer Rally at Denver Planned Parenthood During Democratic Convention

Alveda King calls abortion "industry of racism"

By Kathleen Gilbert

DENVER, August 26, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Over 2000 protesters joined in a prayer rally around a brand new Denver Planned Parenthood building Monday night, coinciding with the Democratic National Convention opening in the same city.

The "Light in the Darkness" vigil featured several interfaith speakers, including Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Auxiliary Bishop of Denver the Most Rev. James Conley, and leaders of other Christian denominations, as well as Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Carrying candles, the crowd circled in prayerful protest around the largest abortion clinic in the United States. The rally was organized by the Archdiocese of Denver, which together with the Catholic Bishops of Colorado has publicly condemned the new facility and warned Catholics against Planned Parenthood's "pro-family" facade.  Archbishop of Denver Charles Chaput spoke about the dual obligations of Christian love - toward women and mothers in need, and their unborn children.

"Acts of violence create a culture of violence - and abortion is the most intimate form of violence there is," said the Archbishop.  "It wounds the woman, it kills the unborn child and it poisons the roots of justice and charity that binds us all into one human family.

"This facility in this minority neighborhood should offend every African-American and Latino family, and all of us, because every child lost to abortion here subtracts one more life, one more universe of possibilities and talent, from the future of this community."  (To read the full transcript of Archbishop Chaput's statements, see http://www.archden.org/images/ArchbishopCorner/Addresses/prolifeprayervigil8.25....)

The Archdiocese invited Alveda King, an outspoken pro-life advocate, to speak at Monday's rally against what she calls the "industry of racism."

King told the crowd Monday night that she is alive today because Martin Luther King, Sr. told her mother, pregnant as a freshman in college, that she must not have an abortion.

"This little baby human girl was allowed to live," proclaimed King.

She believes that Planned Parenthood, founded by the eugenist Margaret Sanger, aims its pro-abortion agenda against the black population and other minorities.  King said she had aborted two of her children, a decision she feels compelled to proclaim as a sin forgiven by God. 

In a commentary published by the Denver Post last Thursday, King wrote: "The connection between abortion and racism is [that] certain people are somehow not fully human.

"Like racism, abortion allows us to treat people inhumanely if it makes our lives easier. And like racism, abortion provides a sense of justification for actions we know in our hearts are wrong."

King calls abortion the true civil rights issue of today.  "The unborn are obviously easier to discriminate against than any group of born humans. They cannot march. They cannot protest. They are invisible." 

Taking up a political theme, King praised the words of Church of God Bishop Charles Blake, a self-avowed "pro-life Democrat," for testifying that abortion is beyond a political issue.

 "We want to commend those men and women and say that life is a civil right, life is precious, and that it transcends politics," said King.

For related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

Alveda King - Niece of Great Civil Rights Leader - to Kick off Canada's National March for Life May 8
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/may/08050208.html

Niece of Martin Luther King Jr. to Lead Prayer Vigil Outside Largest U.S. Abortion Centre - Monday August 25
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/aug/08081801.html

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