The battle in defense of innocent life is far from over.
While the pro-abortion movement has suffered some setbacks, untold numbers of pre-born babies were still killed through procured abortion last year. This sin is still ingrained in today’s “culture”.
While surgical abortions have diminished, the abortion pill is now a leading tool used in the slaughter of the innocent.
With this in mind, volunteers of Tradition, Family, Property—Texas (TFP), began a pro-life tour in defense of the unborn in Texas for two weeks in July.
Known as caravans, these tours involve a vanload of enthusiastic young men ready to defend innocent life. The caravan members sacrifice their time to travel, protest and defend the unborn.
Wearing the characteristic red TFP cape, these young men carry the red TFP standard, the American flag, banners, signs, flyers and, of course, the bagpipes. They denounce the sin of procured abortion and encourage those who already defend innocent unborn lives.
The Southern caravan will hit twenty-five cities across Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama in two weeks.
Twelve young men happily sacrificed two weeks of their summer vacation to defend the unborn who cannot defend themselves.
Enthusiastic Support in Baytown, Tex.
The first campaign was in Baytown, Texas. After selecting a busy intersection, the caravan began one of its signature campaigns, with a banner that read “Thou Shall Not Kill! Stop Abortion” and large signs, which read, for example, “Honk against abortion!” and “A child is a blessing, not a disease!”
The public was overwhelmingly supportive. One caravan participant commented on how he had never seen so much support for a campaign.
Several drove by, holding rosaries out the window. One enthusiastic man drove by with a rosary in his hand, yelling, “Viva Cristo Rey!” (Long live Christ the King!), the battle-cry of the Cristeros in Mexico.
The number of those honking against abortion was impressive, and the noise was deafening. Of course, some did not agree with the TFP’s position, but these were few, and the best they could do was scream insults and profanities.
One incident summed up the general reaction of the public to the campaign. As a pro-abort woman rolled down her window and began screaming, a person in a large truck behind her honked eagerly in support of the campaign, completely drowning out the angry pro-abort.
Overwhelming Support in The Woodlands
The next day, the caravan made its way to The Woodlands, in the greater Houston area, for a campaign at a mall intersection.
Here again, those honking in support far outnumbered those against the campaign. One woman told a volunteer that she recognized the campaign from the TFP Student Action videos on YouTube.
Two young men also came and joined the campaign for some time. They were also familiar with TFP Student Action.
Again, those who did not agree with the campaign were completely outnumbered by those who supported innocent unborn lives.
A Discouraged Counter-protester, a Friendly Mother, and a Brave Young Man
The caravan moved next to Kingwood, Tex. At a busy intersection, the number of honks against abortion was deafening as usual, but some were against the campaign.
Indeed, the caravan encountered its first counter-protester. A person stayed on the opposite corner of the campaign and held a very small sign that was completely unreadable to anyone passing by.
Evidently, the TFP honk signs were perfectly readable from a distance, because the number of honks kept growing. Thus, the lone counter-protestor was visibly frustrated and irritated with all the honking.
As the campaign progressed, several interesting incidents occurred. One young mother with two children pulled up to the intersection and had her young son hand some water bottles to the TFP volunteer closest to her vehicle. The TFP volunteer gratefully accepted this act of charity, as the Texas sun is a real menace in July’s heat.
Another vehicle pulled up, and a young man in the back seat tried to roll down his window to take the TFP flyer. The driver was not so tolerant of the Truth and closed the window before the young man could get the flyer.
The man responded by opening his door and taking the flyer, to the howls of the other occupants of the car, who, it seemed, were not so open-minded after all. They could be heard arguing as the car pulled away.
Another vehicle pulled up, and a young man in the back seat tried to roll down his window to take the TFP flyer. The driver was not so tolerant of the Truth and closed the window
Indeed, the left is never courageous in the face of the Truth when it is declared boldly, openly, and without shame.
However, those defending the Truth are never afraid to speak out or take a flyer, even when it seems that everyone opposes it.
Braving the Heat and Liberal Insults in Corpus Christi
Day 3 saw the caravan head to Corpus Christi, Tex. To the skirl of the bagpipes, the campaign began. Those defending abortion seemed to be more numerous, but they were still outnumbered overall by the enthusiastic support for life.
Even as pro-aborts screamed, pro-lifers drowned them out with their horns.
As on the previous day, a lady came by and gave the caravan some water, which was exactly what was needed then, as the campaign was especially hot.
Also, an older gentleman came with a trumpet and played during the campaign for a time. In between “Scotland the Brave” on the bagpipes was “Amazing Grace” on the trumpet.
He was a former police chief and had served in the military. He was very happy to be there and very thankful for the caravan’s public defense of the unborn.
The caravan then headed to its lodging for the night.
Generous Souls Make this Caravan Possible
A word must be said of the generous souls who provide meals, support and lodging to the TFP caravan. With their signature Southern hospitality, these generous people make these caravans possible. Please remember them in your prayers.
Across Four States, Defending the Unborn
The TFP caravan’s next target is San Antonio. From there, it will visit other cities in Texas before crossing Louisiana and Mississippi, to Mobile, Ala.
All along the way, the activists will stand up for the unborn, denouncing the sin of procured abortion, seeking to show that, regarding abortion, this is only one settled law, and it reads: “Thou Shall Not Kill.”
Photo Credit: American TFP Photo Archive