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Youth Defence against the barbarism of partial-birth
abortion demonstrating outside Sydney’s Wentworth Chambers. President Ben Smith is right with the megaphone, Cathie Smibert is second left front with pamphlets.
It
seemed like an uncontroversial, routine visit by a prominent member of the American judiciary to talk to her Australian peers about the US legal system.
But Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is one of the five US
Supreme Court justices who voted to strike down laws in 30 US states that banned partial birth abortion. So a large gathering of pro-life group Youth Defence members decided to welcome Ms Ginsburg as she arrived at
Wentworth Chambers in Phillip Street, Sydney to deliver her address.
Partial birth abortion is the process of aborting foetuses 20 weeks or older, by inducing birth and then using surgical instruments to
destroy the foetus.
“Where do we draw the line?” asked Youth Defence member Cathie Smibert.
“I wonder how – if most of society is attempting to save the lives of babies after 20 weeks of conception –
others can choose to collapse the heads of those infants at the same stage of development?” Ms Smibert asked.
Chanting slogans, waving placards and giving out pamphlets, Youth Defence waited. A little later
they realised they had been thwarted by Ms Ginsburg’s use of a side entrance.
But Youth Defence says its vigil outside Wentworth Chambers was successful in raising the issue with members of the public and –
most importantly – many of the legal fraternity using the building.
“We were informed that the demonstration caused some conversation,” said Youth Defence founder and president, Ben Smith.
“We want to
show the authorities that the youth of today aren’t all liberal-minded, but have valid perspectives that need to be heard,” commented David Lynch, another young member of the group.
Youth Defence welcomes new
members aged between 15 and 35. For more information telephone Cathie on 0404 278 378 or Ben on 0410 691 371.
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