40 Days for Life
by Krystle Kacner
Posted on 25 February 2009
South Dakotans have voted down the ban on abortion twice. But now, a nationwide campaign is taking a different approach to the controversial subject. KDLT’s Krystle Kacner introduces you to the state's first 40 days for life campaign and finds out how it is affecting the businesses they are standing by.
40 days, 15 hours a day, on 41 Street.
Carrie Sanchez says, "40 days represents transformation throughout the Bible. Moses was transformed by 40 days; Noah was transformed by 40 days"
Carrie Sanchez and her fellow members of the campaign for 40 days for life, hope their Lenten fasting and prayer outside Planned Parenthood will transform the state.
Sanchez says, "We hope they'll wonder why we're out here and then ask questions and learn a little bit more about abortion and the lives being lost to abortion."
But according to Sanchez, this isn't your typical protest.
Sanchez says, "This is just a peaceful prayer vigil. Nobody's out here to shove anything down anybody's throat or tell anybody how they need to live their lives."
And according to Shannon Stevens of Planned Parenthood, it’s taking a similar approach to the campaign happening just outside.
Shannon Stevens says, "Certainly we respect their right to be out there, protesting for these 40 days."
As for the affects on business, Stevens says its really not anticipating any.
Stevens says, "We are here, our doors are open, we are providing a service for women and families in South Dakota and they need that service regardless of whether or not there are people praying outside."
And inside, Stevens says they will continue to offer the same services.
Stevens says, "But here we are very busy hard at work, working with our coalition partners to do something really proactive and try to actually reduce the number of unintended pregnancies in South Dakota."
As for Sanchez and these other pro-lifers, they say they will continue their silent stand for the next five weeks in hopes it helps reduce the number of abortions in South Dakota and across the nation. Sanchez says for safety purposes, there will always be at least two people standing out there at a time. And police say a patrolling officer will be keeping an extra eye on things, to ensure their safety, and to make sure the protest stays peaceful.
