Created Equal Denounces Attack in Colorado, Won’t Be Intimidated
Created Equal joins dozens of pro-life groups and thousands of pro-life citizens across America in condemning the killing of three people (including a law enforcement officer) and the wounding of nine others in Colorado Springs, CO on Nov. 26, 2015.
Important note: At the time of this press release, law enforcement officials have not reported on the possible motive of the alleged shooter. So it is unknown if the actions of the individual responsible were motivated by anti-abortion sentiments. Many assume that the shooter perpetrated the attack because of his opposition to abortion. Despite this uncertainty, our statement is below.
Created Equal Statement
Opposition to abortion never justifies vigilante justice. Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion provider in America, but that should not be used as a justification for taking justice into one’s own hands. Since abortion was made legal in 1973, Planned Parenthood has been responsible for the deaths of millions of innocent pre-born babies, but that doesn’t give anyone the right to become judge, jury, and executioner.
Created Equal grieves for the victims of this tragedy and their families. We ask that all Americans join us in praying for them.
This is also a teachable moment to remind Americans that the pro-life movement is committed to peaceful social action. In fact, we are the most peaceful social justice movement in American history. Historically, every act of violence against abortionists and abortion facilities has been perpetrated by individuals acting alone and not in concert with any pro-life organization. The pro-life movement’s peaceful record is impeccable and can be put up against any other social reform movement in American history (civil rights, anti-war, etc).
Those in the Obama Administration and proponents of abortion have already blamed this tragic event on peaceful law abiding pro-lifers who routinely express their first amendment rights to oppose abortion.
When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was accused by the city officials in Birmingham, AL of fomenting violence because of his peaceful direct action campaigns, he wrote:
“In your statement you assert that our actions, even though peaceful, must be condemned because they precipitate violence. But is this a logical assertion? Isn’t this like condemning a robbed man because his possession of money precipitated the evil act of robbery? Isn’t this like condemning Socrates because his unswerving commitment to truth and his philosophical inquiries precipitated the act by the misguided populace in which they made him drink hemlock? Isn’t this like condemning Jesus because his unique God consciousness and never ceasing devotion to God’s will precipitated the evil act of crucifixion? We must come to see that, as the federal courts have consistently affirmed, it is wrong to urge an individual to cease his efforts to gain his basic constitutional rights because the quest may precipitate violence. Society must protect the robbed and punish the robber.
The pro-life movement will not be painted with the broad brush of violence for the act of one individual. We will never be intimidated into becoming silent as babies are dying. We will not surrender one of our most important freedoms – our right to oppose abortion as murder. Despite this tragedy, we continue to have the moral high ground.
–Mark Harrington, National Director, Created Equal