Archive for November, 2007

Today at about 2:30PM, I was standing outside the Planned Parenthood facility, praying and trying my hand at sidewalk counseling, when a big white truck pulled into the facility and on the back of the truck was a sign that said "Medical Waste". My heart dropped as I realized what this truck was really here for and what it meant.

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If you've ever watched an episode of Law and Order or Perry Mason you might have gotten the impression that legal hearings are fast-paced, action packed events filled with snappy zingers and shocking evidence. If you came last night you probably left with a more realistic picture. Legal hearings are filled with details that must be hammered out and quibbling over small, but very important, points of procedure.

That's most of what went on at the hearing at the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) hearing at City Hall. Our attorneys spent most of the hour long hearing fighting for some additions to the record for the case that could be crucial in the coming months.

Last night's meeting was also a great showing of pro-life support here in Aurora. Over 100 pro-lifers came out and sported red carnations as a sign of solidarity. You can read about the meeting as reported in the Daily Herald and in the Beacon. [Continue reading . . . »]

Tonight: Live blogging from the Zoning Board of Appeals hearing on alleged Planned Parenthood zoning and permitting violations.

6:45 p.m. The public are beginning to arrive, forty or fifty pro-lifers so far, all wearing red carnations on their lapels in sign of pro-life solidarity. The members of the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) are taking their seats too on the dias.

Attorney Chris Wilson, representing Planned Parentood, is seated at the "Applicant" table just in front of my seat at the right end of the first row.

6:50 p.m. Our attorneys, Peter Breen and Tom Brejcha, have just sat down at the Appelant table. Between them is a table for the City's attorneys, as yet unoccupied. Now Alayne Weingartz takes her seat at the City table.

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Tonight for the first time the City Council will vote on an agenda item of concern to the pro-life community: a non-binding resolution proposed by Alderman Chris Beykirch which calls upon the State of Illinois to do what it takes to enforce the 1995 Parental Notice Act.

As of 3:30 p.m., over 70 people are signed up to speak on this agenda item. I will begin live-blogging the City Council meeting at 6:00 p.m., with help from my assistant Matt.

6:00 p.m. The aldermen are filing in and taking their seats. Corporation Counsel Alayne Weingartz is in position, ready to interrupt every community speaker at the two-minute-and-thirty-second mark.

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Eric has asked everyone to attend Tuesday’s City Council meeting to support Parental Notification. The City Council will vote on a non-binding resolution to be sent to Springfield calling on the state government to finally enforce the 1995 Parental Notice Act. This is the first time we actually have an item on the agenda, and it is important to have as much pro-life support as possible.

The meeting will be held in the City Council Chambers at 44 E. Downer Pl. at 6 p.m., November 27. Please sign up to speak by calling the City Clerk at 630-844-3615, and saying that you want to talk about the parental notice resolution that's on the agenda [PDF].

I’ve posted videos below of pro-lifers speaking on this topic – let’s build upon these and have a strong turnout tomorrow in support of life and parental notification! [Continue reading . . . »]

I'm blogging from the Committee of the Whole meeting, at which the parental notice resolution (not to be confused with the ordinance) will be presented for movement on to next week's City Council meeting for a vote.

5:45 p.m. All twelve aldermen are present. Mayor Weisner is absent—I hear he's on vacation at his luxury home in Florida. The C.O.W. are currently discussing items from the Finance Committee. They have already discussed the Planning and Development Committee items. Government Operations is up next, and the parental notice resolution is the second of their items.

This might be a good point to clarify the difference between the parental notice resolution and the parental notice ordinance.

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Today's monthly protest at Planned Parenthood was a tremendous success, with over 200 pro-lifers coming out to be witnesses for life, despite the chilly air and drizzle.

From 9-11 a.m., the group picketed on the north side of New York Street, held large signs of babies born and unborn on the north side of New York and large "Jesus" signs along the west side of Oakhurst, and prayed near Planned Parenthood. Many also signed the parental notification petition and picked up Yard Signs to take home.

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As Eric captured in his Tuesday blog, the last City Council meeting addressed concerns over the growing restrictions on Pro-Lifers’ basic rights. With each new event, Aurora officials further erode our freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution – the right to free speech, the right to assemble peaceably – and this issue is now at the forefront of the Planned Parenthood controversy.

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Planned Parenthood is open! And it has been since October 2nd. You may be feeling or asking yourself, "What can I possibly do now?" Well, a LOT! And it's not all that difficult. It will take a little time, some prayer, humility and perseverance, but here's what you CAN do … [Continue reading . . . »]

Well, she hasn’t been heard of Since Friday, Nov 1. You know who. She said she only stuck around for Mr. Forty-Days For Life. I tried to tell her he never left. He always was here before too. But as all lies go, they are too exhausting to continue. But we are here…for life. As promised, I, Vita T, will go on as always and forever in the lives of the precious people around the globe who know that the innocent unborn and their mother’s need protection and the choice to live. But I know you’re listening, Emily. And we always welcome your voice again. know some of your last words… [Continue reading . . . »]