Pro-Abortion Demonstrators, Vandals Target Pro-Life Prayer Vigils in Northwest Arkansas

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Last week vandals and pro-abortion protesters targeted pro-life prayer vigils in Northwest Arkansas.

In an email message, pro-lifers coordinating 40 Days for Life in Rogers wrote that vandals cut down pro-life banners at St. Stephen Church in Bentonville on Friday.

The banners accompany a display of crosses that represent aborted children. Pro-lifers periodically move the banners and crosses from location to location throughout Northwest Arkansas.

The banners reportedly were hung back up and a police report was filed.

The email also described a group of pro-abortion protesters from Missouri who gathered at one of the pro-life prayer vigils last week.

These are the first pro-abortion demonstrators we have seen since January 2022. Pro-lifers attempted to have a calm and rational conversation with the demonstrators’ questions and accusations — but to no avail.  Pro-Lifers continued praying and remained peaceful, however, when one demonstrator became particularly assertive, prayer warrior Arthur P. called 911. Perfect! The pro-abortionists calmed down, seemed a bit deflated and eventually left.  Rogers Police took a few notes and thanked pro-lifers for calling them. We haven’t seen demonstrators since.   

40 Days for Life is not a rally or protest. It is a peaceful, pro-life assembly for prayer and reflection — and it works.

Every year we hear stories babies saved, abortion clinics shut down, and abortion workers coming to Christ in the wake of a 40 Days for Life prayer campaign.

Arkansas law generally prohibits abortion except to save the life of the mother, but Planned Parenthood — the nation’s leading abortion provider — still has offices in Little Rock and Rogers.

You can learn more about 40 Days for Life in Rogers here.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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State Could Begin Accepting Grant Applications from Pregnancy Centers Next Month

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The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration recently announced it expects applications for the 2023 Pregnancy Help Organizations Grant Program to open next month.

In April, Gov. Sanders signed Act 622 of 2023 authorizing $1 million in state-funded grants for crisis pregnancy centers, maternity homes, adoption agencies, and social services agencies that provide material support to women with unplanned pregnancies.

Under Act 622, the Department of Finance and Administration distributes this grant funding to eligible organizations that provide women and families with alternatives to abortion. In a recent announcement, the agency wrote,

The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) will be seeking applications for funding from organizations eligible to apply under the Pregnancy Help Organizations (PHOs) Grant Program.  This grant program was established for the purpose of encouraging females facing unwanted pregnancy to give birth to their unborn child. DFA is the designated state entity to administer the PHO Grant Program in accordance with Act 622 of 2023. Pregnancy Resource Center Grant | Department of Finance and Administration (Arkansas.gov).

Once preliminary procedures are completed in accordance with state law, DFA will open the Request for Applications. 

The anticipated opening date is mid October.  Announcements will be posted on our website at the link above. 

Since the 2022 Dobbs decision reversing Roe v. Wade, state legislatures around the country have ramped up state funding for pregnancy help organizations.

For example, Ohio recently raised its state budget for pregnancy resource centers to $14 million per biennium.

In Tennessee, legislators appropriated $20 million for pro-life organizations that provide alternatives to abortion. Florida’s state budget allocates $30 million pregnancy help organizations.

The Texas Legislature budgets $50 million per year to its abortion alternatives program.

And Kansas — where some 405 women from Arkansas had abortions in 2022 — will provide $2 million to pregnancy centers in the coming months.

In June the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration finished awarding $1 million in grant funds to pregnancy help organizations as part of the 2022-2023 budget cycle. Now the state is preparing to award another million dollars by June 30, 2024. This grant funding will support women with unplanned pregnancies and help build a culture of life in Arkansas. That’s something to celebrate.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Memorial Service for Aborted Children Sept. 9 at Life Center in Little Rock

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The following is a press release from Arkansas Right to Life.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 6, 2023

LITTLE ROCK – The National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children service is Saturday, Sept. 9 from 11:30 a.m. to Noon at the Memorial Garden for the Unborn at 1515 S. University Avenue in Little Rock. Bishop Anthony Taylor of the Diocese of Little Rock, Rev. Marvin Barham, pastor of Jubilee Church, Maumelle, and speaker Donna Ezell of Arkansas Pregnancy Resource Center of Little Rock, will participate. All are welcome. The event is sponsored by Arkansas Right to Life. For more information call 501-663-4237 or email communications@artl.org. Additional information about the event is available at https://nationaldayofremembrance.org.

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 Arkansas Right to Life is the state affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee, the oldest and largest pro-life organization. For more information visit https://artl.org/.

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