The Greater Waco community turned out in force to protest James Talarico’s U.S. Senate campaign rally at Baylor University.
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Facing the Texas heat, sixty Central Texans protested Talarico’s Democrat campaign. The rally was the evening of September 16 inside the Mark and Paula Hurd Baylor Welcome Center.
Talarico has drawn criticism for using the Bible as a foundation for his ultra-leftist policies on social issues. Talarico proclaims that his support for full abortion access has Biblical support because no book in the Bible explicitly uses the word abortion. He also finds support for “reproductive choice” in the appearance of the Angel Gabriel to Mary. Talarico interprets Mary’s consent to the Incarnation as taking a pro-choice stance on abortion.
The Baylor rally was announced just 10 days before the event. John Pisciotta of Pro-Life Waco organized the protest. Republican Party organizations helped get the word out, along with the Baylor chapter of Students for Life of America.
Image of the event, provided by the author.
The Baylor Police Department limited sidewalk access for the protest. Participants were able to use the sidewalk along city-owned University Parks Drive. However, Baylor PD banned protesting from the sidewalk of Dutton Avenue, which Baylor owns. They even banned Baylor students from protesting on this sidewalk of their university.
Nevertheless, sixty Central Texans delivered an effective protest and public proclamation. The group ranged from teenage Baylor students to long-time pro-life Waco activists in their 80s. Members of Baylor’s pro-life student organization, Bears for Life, participated in particularly strong numbers. Travelers responded positively to the sign holders. One protest group kept a tally of the positive and negative hand gestures. Pro-life responses dominated 138 to 20.
Megan Roos, the Texas-Oklahoma regional coordinator for Students for Life of America, criticized Baylor’s restrictions:
I was dismayed that Baylor did not allow our university-approved pro-life group to exercise free speech rights on a sidewalk owned by their university. We relocated to the public right-of-way along a city-owned street, where our spirited defense of life received an enthusiastic response.
The protest generated an impactful “media multiplier.” Eight Baylor students interviewed pro-life participants for class assignments requiring coverage of both sides. The Baylor Lariat responded to a Pro-Life Waco news release with an even-handed article devoted to the protest. The photographs accompanying the article presented a favorable view of the outreach to the Baylor and Waco communities.
For pro-lifers wanting to protest Talarico in their hometowns, Pro-Life Waco will provide free sign graphics. Contact John Pisciotta at [email protected] or 254-644-0407.
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Image of the event, provided by the author.