About 35 people are taking part in a prayer service outside Mississippi’s only abortion clinic in Jackson. They’ve come in support of 40 Days for Life, a national effort dedicated to praying for an end to abortion. Terri Herring is with Choose Life Mississippi. She wants people to come here who haven’t seen the facility.
“So they can feel the reality of desperate women coming into this pink building with black paper wrapped around it. It’s a center where death takes place. And sometimes I think it’s easy to close our eyes,” said Herring.
Cars are coming and going out of the clinic parking lot, as some anti-abortion supporters carry signs saying….pray to end abortion. Derenda Hancock is with Pink House Defenders, volunteers who escort women into the abortion clinic. She believes women should be able to make their own decisions without interference from people who disagree.
“The woman has her decision to make. It is her body and I won’t answer to their calls from conception that’s, that’s ridiculous and it’s irrelevant to me. It’s the woman’s choice,” said Hancock.
Supporters of abortion rights say ending the procedure would adversely affect the poor and women of color because of limited access to healthcare. Monica Cable, who is African American is against abortion but believes women have the right to choose.
“This is a world in which the creator gave us choice, but he says life or death for us. The choice is ours and I’m just an encourager for people to choose life,” said Cable.
Those here opposed to abortion are hopeful an end to the procedure may be near with the U.S. Supreme Court hearing oral arguments about Mississippi’s 15 week abortion ban in December. They say there will be anti-abortion activist outside the clinic throughout the 40 day prayer and fasting event.
