· Posted 12/02/09 by Danielle
Update: Half the group has been released, but several Survivors remain in jail. Another press release is forthcoming, and will be posted when available. Please feel free to contact the Birmingham Police on behalf of the young people. See the website for contact information.
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama, Feb. 12 — Nine college-age members of the Survivors Campus Life Tour were arrested on a public sidewalk at Parker High School in Birmingham, Alabama, while distributing literature to students at the campus today.
This afternoon, the group of pro-life youth activists quietly held signs, distributed literature and peacefully dialogued with students on the public sidewalk. After being threatened with arrest if they did not leave the area, the group contacted their attorney, who then assured them that their location on the public sidewalk and their free speech activity was legal according to local and state laws. After the Campus Life Tour team members finished handing out literature to passing students and were in the process of loading their van to leave the school area, the police then handcuffed and arrested all nine Survivors without warning. One of the team members who did not assist in the distribution of literature was also arrested and handcuffed so tightly that it caused her to cry in pain.
Kortney Blythe, Director of Survivors Campus Life Tours, repeatedly asked Officer Cooley, one of the arresting officers, the reason for the arrests. He kept assuring the team that they were not arrested, they were only being detained, and he did not know what the charges were. The entire group was never informed of the reason for their arrest as they were being handcuffed, and one of the officers was heard to question his superiors, “What are we arresting them for again?” The police confiscated the team’s video cameras and personal belongings, and impounded and searched the Campus Life Tour van. The police also asked the team members where they were staying so they could conduct a search in their hotel as well.
They are now being held in Birmingham City Jail, the jail from which Martin Luther King, Jr. issued his famous letter condemning apathy and injustice. All nine members of the Campus Life Tour team have “willingly [gone] to jail for their conscience’ sake” in the same city where Dr. King was jailed for his convictions. In January, the Campus Life Tour participated in the Birmingham Letter Project in Washington, DC, a series of events dedicated to speaking against the injustice of abortion in the spirit of Dr. King. They now find themselves jailed for First Amendment activity in Birmingham, demonstrating that prejudice is alive and well in America, particularly when advocating for the civil rights of the pre-born.
The group is scheduled for an early Friday morning hearing, and have been informed the pending charge is “criminal trespass”.
“I am in shock and disbelief that a person can be arrested for simply standing on a public sidewalk and handing out literature. If there is any principle that is so deeply rooted in this nation’s history it is the right of free speech, and it is shameful that those charged with upholding the law are in fact the ones that violated the Highest Law of the land today.
Regrettably, nine innocent young people are sitting in jail for peacefully exercising their constitutional rights, the very jail that imprisoned Martin Luther King for doing the exact same thing. We will fight to defend these brave young people. We will not give in to the tyranny of men, in this case officers, who have placed themselves above the law. We look forward to our day in court.”
— Allison Aranda, Staff Counsel for Life Legal Defense Foundation
“The police officers of Birmingham have demonstrated a total disregard for both local laws and the Constitution. It is ironic that young people participating in a project named after Dr. King’s letter sit in the very jail he penned it from. Ironic and sad. Those are some great young people and I am proud of them as they stand against today’s civil rights abuses, unwilling to be silenced as a voice for the pre-born. Throughout their entire ordeal, these youths’ first and foremost concern was to draw attention to the ultimate civil rights abuse – the murder of pre-born children.” — Rev. Jeff White, Founder of Survivors
“A generation ago, young civil rights workers were thrown in Birmingham Jail as they stood to speak out against the injustice of segregation. Today young pro-life activists are walking the same paths of justice as they are jailed in Birmingham for speaking out against the violence and injustice of abortion. As civil rights workers a generation ago sacrificed, were brutalized, attacked by dogs and yet prevailed by ending the bigotry of segregation, so these heroic young pro-life activists are taking a sacrificial stand to see that the tragedy of abortion comes to an end. As they sit in that jail cell we pray the church is challenged to rise out of their indifference and stand for the innocent children across the nation.’”
— Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Christian Defense Coalition and Sponsor of the Birmingham Letter Project
“What an ironic situation. The actions by the Birmingham Police Department are not only deplorable and shameful but are in direct conflict with the spirit and passion of Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr., who stated that “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”. These young people who have correctly included unborn children as persons deserving of civil rights should be commended, not condemned.”
— Fr. Terry Gensemer, Rector of the Church of the Reconciler Charismatic Episcopal Church, Fairfield, Alabama.
I can’t believe that happened. They should have the right to say whatever they please. That just makes me so sick. I wish i was there to see what went down. This is a very interesting topic.
Please give us an email or phone number to start contacting the Birmingham law enforcement about this outrage!!!! Thank you.
Jesus, protect and save the unborn!
— Denise Gabryel · Feb 13, 05:57 AM · #
This issue is being discussed at the Birmingham News Website.http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2009/02/prolife_activists_arrested_at.html#preview
Denise, I found these contacts:
————————————
MAYOR LARRY P. LANGFORD
Birmingham City Hall
710 20th Street North
Birmingham, Alabama 35203-2216
Phone: 205-254-2277
FAX: 205-254-2926
Chief A.C. Roper
Birmingham Police Department
Central Headquarters
1710 1st Avenue North
Birmingham, Alabama 35203
205-254-1700
Birmingham City Jail
501 6th Avenue South
Birmingham, Alabama 35217
205-254-6369
EmAIL = http://www.birminghamal.gov/police/contact.aspx
Parker High School
900 4th St N
Birmingham, AL 35204
Phone: (205) 231-2370
Fax: (205) 231-2916
Barbara S. Allen, Interim Superintendent
Birmingham City Schools
2015 Park Place
Birmingham, Alabama 35203
Phone 205.231.4600
fax 205.231.4925
— Jorge Lopez · Feb 13, 12:54 PM · #
This is the last straw. The Birmingham Police Department has LONG history of harrassing, abusing, and unjustly arresting and jailing peaceful pro-life witnesses. Officer Farrell, are you listening? Or how about you, Sergeant Brown? The list goes on and on. This is definitely cause for a lawsuit and I pray that by winning you will get the message accross that this bigotry, corruption, and persecution will NOT be tolerated.
This is a PR epic fail because there’s no YouTube clip.
If there’s no YouTube clip, it didn’t happen (in today’s society).
If there’s good video, it spreads like wildfire.
— Rippin' Richie · Feb 14, 05:40 AM · #
i have told everyone i can, we as Christians need to unite in One voice for this, and other injustices Birmingham has a long history of playing “pin the tail on which civil right to violate today” i would like to know whats going on, please email me updates gzsrulz(AT)gmail(DOT)com
— Dr. T.M.Konicek · Feb 14, 08:53 AM · #
I am praying for these brave young people. The culture of death has long been a shameful chapter in American history—as much, if not more, than the era of the civil rights marches!
If not now, when—if not us, who?
— Hollie Woods · Feb 14, 05:10 PM · #
Alabama is completely ridiculous and I couldn’t be more proud of the survivors out there fighting for what they believe in!!! Love you bro! Im proud of you!
— Ashley · Feb 14, 07:11 PM · #
Is this America or is it one of the Soviet bloc countries? How sad that the land of the free is no longer free, in some parts of it.
— Anita · Feb 15, 04:15 AM · #
I hope and pray that EWTN which is located near Birmingham will publicly protest their arrest. Having recently broadcast pro-life marches in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco, this is a wonderful opportunity for EWTN to do something for unborn babies in their own backyard.
— Joel Fago · Feb 15, 04:43 AM · #
The selective abuse of pro-lifers is a wakeup call for common sense to once again prevail. This current administration appears to be the catalyst for those of us who have become too tolerant to WAKE UP NOW. And thank God for the brave members of this group! Our prayers are with you all. God Bless
— vin · Feb 15, 04:59 AM · #
This is not surprising since Birmingham has a long histroy of injustice towards those expressing their right to free speech. These police officers should be ashamed and prosecuted to the full extend of the law.
— Ted · Feb 15, 05:09 AM · #
It seems to me that even the ACLU would have to be on the side of those who were illegally detained in the coming HUGE lawsuit.
— Dr. George Ellwanger · Feb 15, 05:44 AM · #
As the wife of a former police officer I am outraged and demand the immediate release of these innocent kids who were merely trying to educate others about the horrors of abortion. You are sworn to protect life not to harass others as they try to do so!
— Kathleen Neuser · Feb 15, 05:51 AM · #
This is a violation of civil rights under Title 18 USC sections 241 & 242 criminal sections due to the probable conspiracy involved as well as the acts of arrest themselves. Plus there is a civil section with a punitive damage provision wherein if the perps(the police) are found liable the damages must come from their own pockets and not any insurance company or any municipality or govt agency. Get ‘em. —A Retired L.E. Officer
— John Mizerka · Feb 15, 06:17 AM · #
Same harassment going on at University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Genocide Awareness Group on campus is being gagged and charged with trespassing after being intimidated by campus officials and city police. It seems the trend in North America is the same. Freedom of speech is now only for those who tow the line of liberalism. Evil has become good and good evil. Woe to us all Americans and Canadians.
— Laurie · Feb 15, 06:20 AM · #
“Freedom of Speech” in America is now “conditional and qualified” – you are free to speak “if” you speak what “they” want or allow you to speak . . . we live in a blatantly anti-God, anti-faith, anti-believer, and “anti-moral” society . . it hates God (while professing to not believe that He really exists, yet they hate a being they say doesn’t exist), and it hates anyone who is alligned with that God and it hates any lifestyle that reflects the moral teachings of that God . . . it isn’t merely “secularism”, it is anti-truth and anti-God and anti-faith – resulting in being anti-life!
— michael g.batcho · Feb 15, 06:22 AM · #
Though I disagree with Pro-Life groups in general, I would defend with my life their right to be protest and be heard. Shame on you, Birmingham. You make the rest of the South look as bigoted and ignorant as your police force evidently is. I hope their lawsuits break your city’s budget.
— David Edwards · Feb 15, 06:23 AM · #
Has anyone contacted the ACLU in AL about this outrage?!! While that organization is often on the wrong side of the culture war, I have seen it act consistently on First Amendment principle once or twice, and this is an excellent test for them. They resonate with liberals, so it is worthwhile going to them. The Birmingham police dept. has brought massive shame upon itself, and those ba*tards truly need to be sued to the fullest extent of the law!
— Frank Hannon, Melrose, MA · Feb 15, 08:06 AM · #
This is only the beginning. Pro-lifers will suffer cruelly under this administration.
— Kimberly · Feb 15, 08:14 AM · #
What happened to first amendment? We need to protect the unborn from the immoral people who were blessed to be born.
— Nancy · Feb 15, 08:26 AM · #
Well it looks like this is a country without rights, and slowly we are losing are freedoms, if everyone who has written an e-mail here will either pray the Rosary or any prayers we can ask Our Lord to intercede in freeing and protecting these kids that our in jail, as soon as I get done here I will start my Rosaries. God Bless them and Our Lord will take care of them. JUST HAVE Faith!!!!
— Dorothy Chavez · Feb 15, 08:41 AM · #
I will say many rosaries for all the kids who are in jail fighting for the unborn. I hope EWTN announces on their website this injustice and fights for them.
— Rita Schneider · Feb 15, 09:00 AM · #
It is so obvious that their rights were violated but can’t you see this is the coming Spirit for all Chritians…you think this is bad, just wait…people need to wake up…remove the vails of deception. Spirtual warfare really works fast to do this. START with the book by Robert Abel the Catholic Warrior. Then pray off these Spirits that are on you. Your eyes will be opened. We are all incontact with junk on tv, witchcraft everywhere. Just look at the childrens toys and cartoons. These things come with attachments like confusing and blocking spirits. Its very real…you won’t even know they are there until they are gone!
— jer · Feb 15, 09:41 AM · #
I read the article on this in the Birmingham Examiner and there was only one comment. I think that the story was buried in the religion section instead of being a headline. We need to print these articles and post them at our college campus bulletin boards, I will! We need to expose the crimes of the state because I have not seen this huge story anywhere else.
— jerry · Feb 15, 10:28 AM · #
Thsi is just the beginning of persecution. Our citizens voted in a Marxist President. He and the Democrats/Socialists have plans to do away with freedom of religion, speach, and press. They have reinterpreted the constitution and have made freedom of religion into freedom from religion. They also plan on reversing our freedom to bear arms. So many wanted “change”, but didn’t bother to ask what Obama meant by “change”.
I just notified Fox News. I would encourage as many as possible to do the same and ask Bill O’Reilly to investigate and report.
This happened in my county, in Maryland this summer. The police told the kids to move on. They did and were viciously arrested without any explanation. Had much of the same thing happen. Contact JAck at Defend Life for help.See this: http://www.defendlife.org/ Maybe he can guide you all as to what to do next. I called all my local officials and sent it to FOX NEWS. Nothing happened. They were let off. I am praying for you all and will let Mother Angelica and the sisters know of this.
Thank God our kids stand for life and God’s ways.
God surround our people of life with bands of angels.
— Sue · Feb 15, 01:24 PM · #
If those 9 youths were out promoting homosexuality or pro abortion then they would NOT be in jail for sure!
— ellen4pets · Feb 15, 01:25 PM · #
I am with this young people and protest for their detention,
Are we in the United States or Cuba and Venezuela?
We should keep our freedom end the abortion or we will see worse things happen.
— Lucia · Feb 15, 01:39 PM · #
The very spirit of evil is enveloped all sections of society and it is reflected in all the actions taken against the most innocent The Unborn – In the WhiteHouse we do not have a champion of good but a champion of evil He is determined to bring world wide Mass Murder to the Unborn in all countries – He does not champion Democracy but deliberatly targets Nations that democratically voted to protect the Unborn Child from concepation Countries like Ireland Obama and his supports are determined to bring the entire planet under the rule of satan – BUT we have on our side Our Holy Mother – ‘Fast and Pray The Rosary it can even stop time’ Not my words But Our Holy Mothers – So get to Work spread the word gather pray and fast we are in a spiritual War and the Unborn are the prime targets – and remember this – it is a war we have already won Our Holy Mother said ‘My Immaculate will win in the end’ But we have Our part to play God bless
the future of free speech in North America is short to say the least. Your new President will force everyone to follow his immoral practice of disregarding the rights of people to speak their piece on any topic. Please watch this very carefully.
— paul musial · Feb 15, 04:03 PM · #
We you are on or near a University or College in the US, you may as well be in Cuba. The far left is full of itself right now and the persecution is harder now than it has ever been. It will get worse for Christians if they are not consistently sued for big money for violating civil rights.
— Sara · Feb 15, 04:08 PM · #
Obamanation! ugh.
— Kitty · Feb 15, 05:05 PM · #
Greetings from Perth Australia
Congratulations on your action and website. Those who seek to walk in the Lord’s ways can expect such hostility and persecution from the world. I sent an email to the Birmingham Police and to some US newspapers (Not that I expect it to be printed.) I just wanted them to know the world was watching and was well aware of what was going on. Here is what I sent.
Dear Police of Birmingham, Alabama
Dear Journalists (who refuse to acknowledge, let alone confront, the growing intolerance of life and those who protect it!)
Thank you Law enforcers of Birmingham, Alabama for arresting those young people who were peacefully protesting about the murder of unborn babies.
By doing so you have alerted not just all Americans but the whole world to the culture of death which is being installed in hidden ways throughout your (and our) society.
Who ordered this action? To whom does he pledge allegiance?
By arresting those students (inoffensive to all except to those who hate life) you have reminded us of ‘the Power of One’ and of Martin Luther King’s courage and his ultimate sacrifice.
We are inspired by these young people and others who, like them, truly put their trust in God and, in seeking to protect life from conception to natural death, increasingly face persecution.
Yours with concern,
Mary
Perth
Western Australia
— Mary S (WA) · Feb 15, 06:34 PM · #
“Pray, pray, pray”,that is our Blessed Mothers message. Heed her words or this country is doomed.
— Sue · Feb 15, 07:54 PM · #
Of course this is unacceptable.
I just emailed the Birmingham Police.
henry.irby@birminghamal.gov
Thank You,
Colleen
— Colleen Barry · Feb 15, 07:58 PM · #
Amazing! People standing up for the right of unborn babies to be protected from horrific murder, and they get taken to jail.
Anybody who claims they’re “pro-choice” is “pro murder of innocent unborn babies” don’t let positive politically correct terms to a barbaric action fool you. Their attempt is to apply negative names to pro lifers “Anti-choice” and their own murderous intention/support a positive name.
Those supporting abortion have already been born. Ironic isn’t it? And they talk about choice ;-)
There isn’t any CHOICE in the matter for the unborn child. We’re talking about an innocent human life who has every right to their lives, to be born, rather than ripped apart and sucked out of his/her Mother’s womb because she/he is “Inconvient”. The very place that ought to be the safest, has become the most dangerous.
Most abortions by the way are NOT committed because of incest or rape (though they like to use that one on people when they’re trying to justify such an atrocity). MOST are committed out of inconvenience!!!!
Those who either endorse, support, or have no opinion on the matter are guilty in one way or other, even by ommission. How can such an abomination be acceptable in any apparently civilised society? How can any “decent” citizen honestly endorse such a barbaric practice?
There is NO excuse for murdering an unborn child. None. If you think rape/incest is an excuse, you’re wrong. Baby isn’t responsible. Not baby’s fault. Baby shares genetics of Mother also. Baby is innocent. Baby didn’t commit crime. If anyone should be so horribly punished, why not then abort the rapist/abuser? Not that I am for murder of any kind, but why don’t they apply their murderous “solutions” to the criminal rather than the baby? Baby can be adopted. Which is worse, rape/incest or murder of an innocent? Do not think either that the victim of the abuse is lifted off her torment by the removal of the baby. Quite the contrary! Adding murder to the violation of rape/incest is not the answer and it is simply answering evil with possibly an ever greater evil. Carrying the baby full term would be a very heavy burden and the person would require support. But is murdering that child the answer? Heck the baby doesn’t even get a trial. Even the criminal gets that.
Whenever I hear somebody raving on about injustice and the horrors of blood shed or murder and next minute they’re advocating abortion, I find my stomach turns from the sheer hypocrisy. The Jewish holocaust was bad enough, the unborn child holocaust is FAR worse. People want their life protected and would be outraged if “pro-choice” was applied to them if someone wished to “get rid of them”, but heck they have no issue applying it to the unborn. How brave!
Funny thing is, somebody can be tried for murder TWICE, if they kill a pregnant woman. Yet suddenly it’s not murder if the women goes to a doctor to have her unborn child murdered.
One must wonder, why is it ok to kill a child when its in the womb, but not ok when it’s out of the womb? Amazing how a white coat, a pair of plastic gloves suddenly makes the practise acceptable isn’t it?
I make no apologies for offending anybody’s “delicate sensitives” over this. And if you are offended, ask yourself why you’re not more offended by the daily murder of unborn children? The worst and most prolific holocaust today and in human history.— Bex · Feb 15, 09:01 PM · #
hmmm. maybe after one of your ilk decided to leave an explosive device in our city, the city govt. said enough and any time you guys trespass you are going to get arrested. just a theory.
— bham rez · Feb 16, 09:29 AM · #
You should educate yourself before spewing insulting garbage like that. We were peaceful the entire time we were thier, and the officers made fools of them selves. YouTube – Parker High School
— joseph jones · Feb 17, 10:26 PM · #
This is still AMERICA, and those young people have rights. I hope they sue the city to show others that they just can’t arrest someone because they disagree or because someone tells them to arrest them. The police are there to protect ALL citizens, sometimes even from themselves, as in this case. They themselves should be brought up on charges for violation of civil rights. This country is truly in deep trouble. I believe, as others do, that the root of it is the killing of innocent children, the shedding of rivers of blood. All that evil doesn’t just happen without consequences. As Mother Teresa said, “America needs no words from me to see how your decision in Roe v. Wade has deformed a great nation.” God have mercy on our country-may He bring out country healing from this horrible sin!
— prayerwarrior4Jesus · Feb 18, 12:22 PM · #
Sadly, this is becoming the “accepted norm” in a lot of cities, when it comes to “Christians” sharing the TRUTH! Whether it is regarding Pro Life or One Man + One Woman = Marriage . God is no longer a part of our country. He has stepped back and is watching the US slowly dive in to HELL! When God was taken out of school and the “seperation of church and state” became the norm, our country picked up speed in moral decline. Christians. . . we need to stand up for our rights as citizens of this country and be heard! We have just as much right to share what we know as TRUTH as the Pro-Choicers and the GLBT groups! Yet, if it were one of those groups that were standing on the sidewalk handing out literature, you can bet your life that they WOULD NOT have been arrested and their voices would NOT have been squelched!!! Pray People! Pray! And stand up for what you KNOW is TRUTH!!
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Survivors is a Christian, pro-life activism organization dedicated to educating and activating high school and college age individuals. If you were born after 1973, you are a Survivor. Over 45,000,000 of our generation have been killed since the decriminalization of abortion by Roe v. Wade… and thousands of innocent babies are scheduled to die tomorrow in America. The Survivors believe this generation is called to stand up, speak up, and be a powerful voice for the voiceless.
Resist apathy – join the Survivors.