News

LOS ANGELES, November 29, 2012, (LifeSiteNews.com) – Youth activists descended on the Stapes Center in Los Angeles on Monday, November 12 for the premier of the fourth and final Twilight movie Breaking Dawn: Part Two chanting “Bella Chose Life!” to all those waiting in line to see stars walk the red carpet for the film’s debut.

The kids were in town for the second annual International Pro-life Youth Conference just a few miles a way in Downey, California, organized by the Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust.

The youth attendees spent the weekend hearing talks and receiving training from renowned activists such as Lila Rosa of Live Action, Eric Scheidler of Pro-life Action League, Troy Newman of Operation Rescue, and many more.

Monday was their opportunity to put all of their training to practice. The location of the demonstration was not made known until the last minute.

Originally, the kids made their way around 9 am to the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, but a morning news segment instigated a last-minute change in plans. 

One of the event organizers saw a bit on the morning news about the star-studded Twilight movie premier that had fans lined up and camping out in tents since the Thursday prior. 

So, the vans loaded with the youth activists made an about-face and headed toward the Staples Center.  Once there, with prayers said and a plan quickly mapped out for the new location, kids spread out with their large signs, megaphones and Human Life Alliance pro-life educational newspapers and began their public outreach. 

They engaged with walkers-by and many Twilight fans.  At one point during the demonstration, movie fans expressed their frustration with the pro-life activists.  One fan shouted out “But Bella kept her baby!”  The fan was a referring to the movie saga’s main female character who, amid pressure to abort her child during a difficult pregnancy, was steadfast in her love and care for her preborn child.  This ignited a chant from the pro-life activists, “Bella chose life! Bella chose life!” 

Many movie fans were visibly agitated by the demonstration, which is the point of any demonstration, but activists kept a positive and uplifting presence while engaging both with the crowd and individuals, with pro-life chants and visual aids.

It was Alexa Lopez’s first time participating in pro-life activism and said she found it “really exciting” and made the idea of getting involved in more activism back home less intimidating.  She’s an 18 year old from Camino, CA, studying at Mt. San Antonio College and had been urged to attend the conference by one of her mother’s friends.
Asked about the overall conference experience, she said, “I’m really excited to try and bring [what she learned] back, especially to my youth group to try and get teenagers involved.” 

Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust holds pro-life demonstrations throughout the year on college campuses and public places.  To find out more about their activity and how to get involved, visit https://www.survivors.la