By Bill Poehler,
MCCL Communications Associate
The summer of 2004 was a memorable one for the pro-life movement in Minnesota. More than 2,000 volunteers with Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) chapters organized and staffed pro-life booths at all 94 county fairs and the State Fair.
Fairs are popular destinations in the state. More than 3.2 million people attended Minnesota county fairs this year, and another 1.7 million fairgoers enjoyed the State Fair in St. Paul.
"MCCL's county fair booth project is a huge undertaking, but worth every bit of effort to reach so many people with the message of life," said MCCL Executive Director Scott Fischbach. "Our volunteers look forward to bringing the compassionate pro-life message to their communities and actually saving precious lives."
Attracting attention
MCCL provides chapters with all the materials they need to stock their booths, as well as ideas for fundraisers and attention-getters. Four-feet-tall displays feature beautiful photos of unborn babies, persons with disabilities, and elderly people - - all people with vulnerable lives. The displays are lit with spotlights to attract attention to the issues of abortion, euthanasia, and infanticide.
Volunteers offer literature on fetal development and fetal pain, stem cell research, pending pro-life legislation such as Minnesota's Taxpayer Protection Act and the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act, and a Pres. Bush-Sen. Kerry comparison sheet. An ultrasound videotape plays on a monitor, and giveaways such as "Thanks mom for life" buttons put a smile on people's faces.
Fetal models are magnets
The biggest attraction, however, are the life-size fetal models. Beautifully presenting the reality of life in the womb, these scientifically accurate models at various developmental stages dispel the "mass of tissue" lie of the abortion industry.
"It's amazing to see a woman come up to the fetal models, then call her husband or boyfriend over and show him what their unborn baby looks like," Fischbach explained. "Others come and look silently, then walk away. We know that what they have been told about unborn children is being challenged by the facts."
Abortionists are patronizing
There are always stories to tell from the fairs, and this year was no exception. A woman told a volunteer at the county fair in Motley, Minnesota, that she had recently had a miscarriage at five months gestation. She had asked her doctor to show her what her unborn child looked like at that stage, but the doctor refused.
This woman was deeply touched to finally see fetal models at the MCCL booth. She spent 15 minutes looking at them, then thanked the volunteers for being there.
At the Mille Lacs County Fair, a woman told volunteer Pam Abbate that she had an abortion when she was 19 years old. She was 4 and a half months pregnant, and she asked the Planned Parenthood abortionist to show her what her unborn child looked like. The abortionist told her,
"It wouldn't be worth it, because it's just a blob of cells." Now in her late 20s, the young mother saw the fetal models for the first time at the 2003 MCCL fair booth.
"It broke my heart to see how developed my baby was," she recalled. "She had arms and legs and could suck her thumb. Planned Parenthood lies to girls who come to them."
A 16-year-old girl told volunteers at MCCL's Minnesota State Fair booth that she was five months pregnant and already had chosen a family to adopt her unborn son. The family owns a large horse farm - - something she had longed for as a child.
"Not only will I be giving life to my son, but I'm bringing joy to a wonderful family and giving my son everything I ever wanted," she said with a smile. Her mother, who was with her, was equally happy about her daughter's decision.
Daily newspaper coverage
The St. Paul Pioneer Press, one of Minnesota's largest daily newspapers, sent a reporter to one of MCCL's fair booths.
The resulting article compared MCCL's educational efforts with the abortion industry's door knocking campaign to raise money to defeat pro-life President George W. Bush.
In the lead story on the newspaper's Sunday front page, MCCL's pro-life booths were put in a surprisingly positive light. Children were photographed at the booth's coloring contest, and their parents were quoted sounding like mainstream, level-headed citizens who believe abortion is barbaric.
"MCCL is a powerful lobbying and educational group known for influencing policy at the state Capitol," the story read. "The source of that power is out on the fairgrounds - - people who see life in those models and who see abortion as barbaric."
Whether it makes front-page news or is ignored, MCCL will continue to educate Minnesotans and build a culture of life through its effective fair booths.