More Than 1,000 Gather for Anti-Abortion Rally

Mon, January 23, 2012

Kansas Public Radio / Stephen Koranda

More than 1,000 anti-abortion activists gathered at the Kansas Statehouse Monday. The annual rally coincides with the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision by the US Supreme Court that legalized abortion. The crowd heard from politicians like pro-life Governor Sam Brownback.

“I said this last year and it’s more true this year,” says Brownback. “This is a pro-life state and we’re not going back.”

Last session, lawmakers passed several laws putting tighter restrictions on abortions and abortion providers. Kansans for Life Executive Director Mary Kay Culp says they’ll be pursing additional restrictions this year.

“We have a legislative agenda, a full legislative agenda for this year,” says Culp. “What we’re interested in is keep on the march we’re on, which is an incremental approach to this.”

Culp says abortion opponents will pursue stronger laws protecting physicians and pharmacists who choose not to take part in abortions or dispense drugs that can terminate a pregnancy.