CBR Staffer Maggie Ferrara explains that human beings are valuable no matter how they were conceived.

When we began planning GAP at The College of William & Mary (W&M), we contacted the pro-life student organization, Tribe for Life.  They refused to work with us; a common decision among pro-life college students. The reality is, most pro-life student groups think that being liked around campus will help end abortion. How wrong they are.

On our first day at W&M, a member of Tribe for Life approached CBR staffer Jane Bullington and said, “I think we made a mistake not working with you guys. Pro-lifers need to stick together.”  Praise God this student was able to see the effectiveness of GAP, and was willing to step forward.

Nothing like a good ad hominem. Jane asked two passing girls, “How are you?” One replied, “Fine until you stuck this in my face! You are wrong and stupid and ignorant and I don’t like being forced to see this.” Her friend continued, “We wouldn’t be so angry if you just showed aborted fetus pictures. Piggy-backing on these other events from long ago only weakens your argument.” Somehow, we doubt you wouldn’t be so angry if that’s what we did.

Facts or feelings? CBR staffer Maggie Ferrara spoke with a student who claimed that life doesn’t begin at fertilization, but it also doesn’t begin at birth. He decided it began sometime in between those two events. He refused to look at the list of academic sources Maggie offered him, saying that he could go into the library and find sources that disagreed with ours. Maggie encouraged him to do his own research and not rely on when he “feels” like life begins.

Kill your child, or risk stretch marks? Annie told CBR staffer Joshua, “I use my body every day, and pregnancy would take too much of a toll on my body. Especially if I were raped, I would get an abortion to preserve my body and prevent stretch marks.” A human life, or stretch marks? They’re about equal in importance, wouldn’t you say?

Vulgarity abounds. One girl yelled as she walked pass the display, “If I wanted the government in my vagina, I’d f*** a senator.” Another gave us the middle finger while snarling, “You disgust me.”

Williamsburg Democrats claim our photos are doctored. Maggie talked to an older gentleman who received an email from the Williamsburg Democrats, claiming our photos were doctored. He went to our website (AbortionNO.org) and then responded to the email, “Why do you claim the photos are doctored? That does not add anything to this debate.” Maggie told him, regarding the authenticity of our photos, to use common sense. If you don’t believe our proof (affidavits from a doctor and photographer), you can look at fetal development and at how abortions are performed, and can logically deduce that the end result would look like our pictures. He nodded, “Yes, that makes sense.” 

CBR SE Director Fletcher Armstrong answers the questions of a growing crowd.

At W&M, there was plenty of good to counterbalance the plenty of bad. Many students spoke words of encouragement. Some maintained intellectual honesty even if they didn’t agree with us. Others shared personal testimonies which affirmed what we know to be true: God is the creator and sustainer of life. Here are a few flickers of hope:

Open minds see the truth. A young man spent time talking to us, and to the protesters across the green. “You guys have the arguments. The other side only has posters that say you are hateful. No information at all.”

Photographs promote understanding. CBR staffer Joshua Lindsey talked with a girl who understood exactly why we were on campus because she recently visited the Holocaust Museum. She told Joshua, “I always knew the Holocaust was wrong, but it didn’t become real to me until I saw the photographs of the victims.”

Watering a pro-life sapling. Nick spent almost an hour talking with CBR staffer Jane Bullington. Nick said he was Christian and pro-life but didn’t think our method was best. Jane calmly answered his many questions and listened to his thoughts. After a long while he said “I just realized how middle-of-the-road I really am on this issue. I need some time to think about this.” Jane agreed and encouraged him as he left. She told him, “Thank you for being a blessing to me, with your honesty and desire to be truly pro-life, in word and deed.” Sometimes we plant the seed, sometimes we water that seed, sometimes we bring in the harvest. But God always fills in the gaps.

Forcing people to care. CBR staffer Mik’aela talked to a group of girls for a long time, answering all their questions. They were particularly interested in why we use images to support our pro-life position. Finally, one of the girls said, “It sounds like your purpose in bringing these pictures here is to foster conversation, because people aren’t going to care about talking about abortion otherwise.” You got it!