Silent Protest — Jerry and Rebecca Brooks of Glade Valley hold signs and pray during the Alleghany Life Chain in Sparta Sunday.

Abortion protesters hold "Life Chain"

A silent abortion protest was held in Sparta Sunday as a number of local residents gathered to pray and display signs with religious or anti-abortion slogans.

The event, dubbed the Alleghany Life Chain, featured signs with many of the same slogans again this year, "Jesus Forgives and Heals" and "Abortion Kills Children." However, local Alleghany Right to Life President Marie Carlson, who participated in the event, brought her own sign, which read, "Life, the first inalienable right." That sign bore an image of the U.S. flag in the background. "A friend of mine who protested in Vero Beach, Florida gave it to me," Carlson said.

According to Alleghany Life Chain coordinator Mary Sue Boyette, turnout was up this year.

"We had 34 people that registered this year," she said. "We had a few more this year than last year."

As for the signs, Boyette said that all of the signs deal with abortion and the fact that Jesus will forgive and heal us.

"We know that many women in our nation have gone through the pain of having an abortion and many carry the pain and guilt of going through an abortion," she said. "We want to present to them the one answer that can heal that pain and hurt, forgiveness through Jesus Christ."

The hour is spent by the participants in prayer, she said. "As we stand there and pray, many of us are praying for the women who have experienced that pain and also we are praying that the Lord will help them make the right choice and preserve the lives of unborn children."

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