Anti-abortion vigil complements national marches

Jan. 21--MANKATO -- The winter storm forecasted for the region kept a group from Mankato from travelling up to St. Paul's March for Life Monday, but more favorable conditions Sunday allowed them to rally their message along Riverfront Drive.

About 10 people lined the sidewalk in front of the old Union Depot with anti-abortion signs for a vigil, part of an annual Blue Earth County March for Life gathering ahead of the Jan. 22 anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision.

The local gathering complemented days of rallies advocacy for rights of the unborn in Minnesota and across the country, which coincided with the anniversary of President Donald Trump's inauguration.

Many anti-abortion activists were heartened by the election of Trump, who promised sweeping anti-abortion legislation during his campaign. In the year since, abortion rights have indeed started to be chipped away.

Neil Gorsuch, thought to be staunchly anti-abortion, was named to the Supreme Court, renewing hope Roe v. Wade could someday be overturned. Funding for international health groups who distribute abortion information was also cut. More recently, Trump officials indicated they'd seek protections for medical workers who oppose abortion.

Tom Hoehn, who helped organize the vigil in Mankato, said the changes have been encouraging.

"You've got to be encouraged," he said. "It's all leading to the same end, to respect life and protect life."

Others holding signs Saturday expressed what they'd like to see happen next. They called on legislators to further restrict funding to Planned Parenthood, ban late-term abortions and increase funding for adoption programs and the resources for women who connect them to such programs.

But just as much as changing laws, Hoehn said the movement is about changing hearts so people don't feel like they need to seek an abortion in the first place.

"The main thing is to have a change of heart to protect life," he said. "Laws can only do so much."

Just down the sidewalk, Jim and Margrethe Eidet said they feel like more people are coming onboard with their compassionate position on unborn life.

"If you don't have life, you don't get to pursue happiness," Jim Eidet said. "It's the weakest, most undefended populous in our country."

The two mentioned medical advances as a potential swayer of opinion. Margrethe Eidet noted the ultrasound they recently saw of their grandson, which shows developing life in the womb, wasn't available when she had children.

"He's little, but he's not insignificant," added her husband.

They said compassion is what drives their anti-abortion stance, both for the women making difficult decisions about their pregnancies and the unborn life.

"I don't look at it as a battle, I just look at it as trying to be an advocate for something better," Jim Eidet said.

Follow Brian Arola @BrianArolaMFP.

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