Santa Clarita is a pretty homogenous place. We don’t see a lot of protests around here except during campaign season. That’s what made it surprising to me to see about 50-100 people lined up at all four corners of Lyons Ave & Orchard Village Road protesting abortion today.
As the tagline of this blog reads, I’m a pretty liberal guy. But abortion is one of those issues that makes even a liberal like me uneasy. I see the points from both sides of the debate and usually fall inline with the Clinton-era triangulation that abortion should be “safe, legal and rare.”
So while I can understand why these folks are protesting, I’m a little confused about why they’re protesting here. Santa Clarita, after all, doesn’t offer any abortion services as far as I know (hell, we only have one hospital for 250,000 people), and I imagine if you polled residents, the town would be heavily pro-life. Isn’t protesting abortion in Newhall a little like preaching to the choir?
That question lead me on an internet search. I Googled “abortion santa clarita” and stumbled across this posted on Yahoo Answers:
I want to know if the hospital [Henry Mayo] offers that service [abortion]
Due to the fact that my friend is 12 years old and pregnant.
I am not a troll, haha.
Sadly,
Im dead serious.
She got preggo from a 9th grader, she is in 6th grade.So if someone could please help me, I am not old enough to drive,
and we can’t get parental consent from her mother.
Her mom is strongly religious,
and would want to kick her to the curb.The guy is being a jerk and claims the baby isnt his,
even though he is the only possible father…If someone could please help me,
as to talk him into the fact that he is the only father, and to help me make him understand that would be great too..Also, how many weeks does someone have to be before abortion.
*Btw, I know she is really young, I am quite disappointed, and angry that she is pregnant at 12 myself, so please, no harsh comments.
Thankyou.
This was posted on Yahoo Answers nine months ago (I know, the irony) and there’s no way to tell if it’s true or false or whatnot. But is it plausible this could happen in Santa Clarita? Sure.
I imagine if I were in such a situation, I’d first turn to the internet too. I might even type “abortion santa clarita,” the first result of which is the Santa Clarita Valley Pregnancy Center, a group that’s been open here in town as long as I can remember.
The SCV Pregnancy website is a fairly straight-forward site that offers various services, counseling and information for young women scared about pregnancy. It even has a tab on abortion in which the Center offers ‘advice’ on abortions and whether they cause pain, side effects, and mentions possible “serious problems” during abortion if the young woman has an STD. Overall, it advises young women to come in, get tested, and talk about the matter before they make a decision.
There’s nothing explicitly religious in nature on the main website, which is probably why the Center enjoys broad support throughout town, including over five pages of PDFs, links, calendar events, and more on the City of Santa Clarita’s website. Its leader, Angela Bennett, is chair of something called the SCV Nonprofit Leader’s Council and in media posts about the organization, it is described simply as a place nervous young women can go to receive counseling about their pregnancy.
However, if you go to LifeSupporter.org, a “Project of the SCV Pregnancy Center,” you’ll find a website that reveals the other mission of the SCV Pregnancy Center:
We reach out with compassion to families experiencing unplanned pregnancies and help them to consider life affirming alternatives to the devastation of abortion. In all aspects of the ministry, we encourage Biblical principles of living in a loving and non-judgemental (sic) environment. Our trained staff and volunteers offer encouragement, education and hope through Jesus Christ to those who receive ministry.
In other words, the SCV Pregnancy Center is a religious organization -a ministry even- though they’re not entirely up-front about it.
Despite the subterfuge, I believe the Center does good work. As the quote from Yahoo above reveals (whether it’s true or false is largely beside the point), an unplanned pregnancy is just about the most earth-shattering thing that can happen to a young girl, her family, and the father. At the very least the folks at the SCV Pregnancy Center know how to deal with that situation and the overwhelming sense of “crisis” it entails.
And if their work happens to persuade a young girl that there is a different and better path toward resolving her pregnancy, then I think that goes along way toward making abortion “rare.” And that’s something I can get behind. Even if they get a little preachy.
So while I”m not quite there holding a sign up with the protesters on Lyons, I’m almost there with them in spirit.
you neglect to mention the name of the group/ organization conducting this demonstration about abortion. The signs being carried in your photo seemed pretty professional, so I assume it was an organization of some sort. The other interesting thing about your photo is that it seems that most of the participants were MEN!!!!! I just question the fact that a group of mostly MEN protested about an issue that is primarily a WOMEN’S issue. Didn’t you stop to question these people????
Jeff:
The protest was probably motivated by a recent Pew Poll (Pew does real polls with a lot of discipline) that shows a pretty significant change in national belief that abortion on demand (without any restrictions) is not right.
You probably shouldn’t have an abortion Jeff as it doesn’t sound right for you and each person needs to make this painful, personal choice, without harassment.
No I didn’t stop to question them, why in the world would I want to actually interact with them?
And I’m “just wondering” how in the world a pregnancy can be only a woman’s issue?? The boys that are finding out about the pregnancies are just as terrified.
Trying to make this only a female issue is incredably irresponsible. Men get blamed for not taking action and blamed when they do.
I’m proud to see men out there!
And I’m also just wondering why it’s mainly a woman’s issue right up until she decides to give birth. And at that moment it’s the man’s issue to be financially responsible.
Abortion will always be legal. NEXT.
I drive by the area this afternoon and was suprised
by the “rally” as well. Figure this town is pertty pro life. I actually only saw one guy sitting in a chair, the rest
seemed to be younger women, possibly some high school group. Closest I got to the group was the auto store.
Jeff, I have been a supporter of the SCV Pregnancy Center for years. It also holds a very public fund raiser each year at the Hyatt and is will host its annual Walk For LIfe in a few weeks. Nothing is really being hidden Jeff.
So in their public fund raiser they talk about bringing souls to Jesus Christ?
Jeff, I was at that Hyatt fundraiser, and yes, they are up front in what they believe. But in the same breath, they will tell you that they never push or coerce. If a person is interested in knowing what Christianity teaches, then I’m sure they will receive spiritual guidance. Bottom line is, they don’t discriminate. I’ll bet they see their share of atheists and leave them feeling loved, no matter what the client chooses. By the way, when a friend forwarded this link and I read the title, I was bracing for an attack article. However, I commend you for putting this out in an even handed and surprisingly honest manner. Great discussion here.
Didn’t you stop to question these people??
Had this been a gay and lesbian rally, or a rally to support cyclist, Jeff would have stopped for a question or two. In stead you read “No I didn’t stop to question them, why in the world would I want to actually interact with them”?
Too little time and too many priorities.
I have attended their annual fundraiser for the last 5 years. SCVPC is an amazing organization that serves families in Santa Clarita open and honestly. Staff provides services beyond a simple pregnancy test ranging from ultra sounds, clothes, parenting classes and counseling.
They are careful not to get wrapped up in the “political activist” area of the pro-life movement. They are here to serve the women AND men facing crisis pregnancies.
I will second Mark’s comments at how surprised I was at your comments Jeff. I too expected a “right wing wacko” undertone. I appreciate so much your candor and even-handed approach to the debate.
“Abortion Kills Children” signs and you call them “an amazing organization that doesn’t get wrapped up in the political activist area of the pro life movement”???
Seems a tad wrapped up to me. While I share the belief that abortion should be rare and not the norm, it certainly IS legal and will remain so.
I see the value in the vegetarian lifestyle, but the whole “Meat Is Murder” camp leaves me cold. Same applies here.
GangFang – I apologize if I wasn’t clear.
SCVPC did not organize or particpate in the rally being discussed.
Sorry, I read that pre-coffee! You’re right.
Who does one have a even handed debate. You are describing a discussion.
How???????????
Jeff, it’s important to question the people you’re writing about to get a fuller picture of the issue. That’s what reporters do. It would give you more cred as a blogger to get both sides of the issue, or at least know that of which you speak (otherwise it’s just idle speculation).