Pro-Life Protest Over Terrorist Labeling

Dear Mr. President,

We write to you today as a collection of over 492 university pro-life organizations. We are alarmed by your administration's ignorance of who pro-lifers are and what we strive to accomplish. The recent April 7th Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assessment of "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment" warned of potential right wing extremism and named pro-lifers specifically which we found extremely insulting. Further on March 26th, in the DHS Reference Aid "Domestic Extremism Lexicon", your Administration said that pro-lifers are "A movement of groups or individuals who are virulently antiabortion and advocate violence against providers of abortion-related services, their employees, and their facilities. Some cite various racist and anti-Semitic beliefs to justify their criminal activities." This is a terribly inaccurate definition of who we really are.

We are a collection of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. Our campus groups are made up of people of faith and of no faith. We come from all races, ethnic groups, social classes, and backgrounds. A May 2009 Pew Research poll has found that 48% of 18 to 29 year-olds believe abortion should be illegal. Labeling 48% of this generation as violent extremists is absurd.

Our independent university groups strive to end abortion, help women who face un-planned pregnancy, and women who are recovering from an abortion experience. Because we believe that abortion is the murder of an innocent human child and irrevocably harms the mother of the child, this does not mean that we are racist, anti-Semitic, violent, or a threat to the United States of America. Our university groups work tirelessly every day to fulfill the following goals on campus: educate the campus body about the procedures of abortion, the risks and complications of abortion, and fetal development. In addition, our groups work with our administrations to provide reduced-cost daycare, flexible class schedules, and student-parent housing. None of our mission statements include anything racist, anti-Semitic, violent, or disrespectful to the United States. We believe that those individuals that you classify as "pro-life" who commit acts of violence are, in fact, not pro-life. Pro-lifers are dedicated to protecting the lives of the unborn, as well as the born.

We request that you promptly address this situation at DHS. We ask that you speak to your administration officials and educate your employees about the goals of the pro-life movement seeks and how we seek to accomplish these goals. We would be happy to meet with you to discuss our visions and goals and what we would like to see happen to America.


Sincerely,

Students for Life of America