Alive From New York: Focus on the Family Rally

I was one of the 10,000 people at the Alive from New York pro-life rally in Times Square on Saturday.

The event was so powerful. It was put on by Focus on the Family. it was a huge celebration of life, right in the heart of Times Square!

If this is the first you’re learning of this event, well—that’s because few of the mainstream media channels (aside from FOX) covered the event—even though it was the largest pro-life rally in Times Square ever.

There were speakers and a concert by Francesca Battistelli. The phenomenal movie, Unplanned played a huge role in the event. Unplanned’s star actress, Ashley Bratcher, spoke, as well as Abby Johnson the former Planned Parenthood clinical director. And the pinnacle event was that they broadcast over a jumbotron, Abby Johnson’s 4D ultrasound of her 3rd-trimester child!

It was absolutely incredible.

But not everyone was thrilled about the event.

First of all, Planned Parenthood took out a huge billboard right above where the event was being held that read, “PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS HEALTH CARE” in big bold letters.

And then, when I arrived, there were cops everywhere, because swarming both sides of Times Square were hundreds of protestors, shouting profanities and grotesque remarks at the attendees of the beautiful celebration of life in the middle.

 

They were banging drums and shouting things that would make a sailor blush.

But the event attendees paid them no mind and continued on in their joyful gathering.

Here’s the crazy thing—as soon as that 4D ultrasound came on the screen, and you saw Abby Johnson’s baby sucking its thumb, and you heard the whooshing of the baby’s heartbeat over the loudspeaker—Times Square was silent. No more protestor rants, no more drums. Just the beautiful sound of life, and a mother’s cooing remarks to her child in the womb, and right underneath the Planned Parenthood billboard.

But after the ultrasound—the protestors went home.

It was the wildest thing.

Maybe the prayers that were in my heart for the souls of those protestors were answered! Who knows.

Coming home that night, I was looking up coverage about the event, and not surprisingly, I was discouraged to see that it was, in essence, completely erased from history by the mainstream media.

But it was at this point, that all the juxtapositions I had experienced that day, finally caught up with me.

This issue of life is absolutely tearing our country apart.

Some of the names I have been called when I have stood silently, praying outside of Planned Parenthood—without signs, without talking to people, without anything but love in my heart—the derogatory things would make my mother cry. I’ve had cameras shoved in my face, horns blared right in front of me. Even teenaged kids, shouting rude things.

There is a real hatred for people who support life. And I saw that over and over again this weekend.

There’s such a misconception that people who support life are in some way shaming people who support abortion. Or are trying to control women’s bodies. Or you name it.

But the reality is, the pro-life movement is driven by love.

Love for the child in the womb. For the pregnant mothers and fathers. For life in all its stages— even the smallest and most vulnerable.

And as witnessed in Times Square that day, love won. When those protestors heard that heartbeat and heard Abby Johnson speaking so tenderly to her “little guy” as only a mother does—they packed up and left.

So my prayer is this: to stay hopeful. Yes, it seems like an uphill battle—when not a single news outlet will cover this celebration of life. Stay hopeful.

Life is worth it. Love is worth it. And someday, the world will see that, too.

So what was the takeaway?

Love wins.

Love wins. Period.

To read Caralyn’s original, unedited article, please visit beautybeyondbones.com.