Civil Rights Movement of the 21st Century

Dr. Alveda King, the niece of Martin Luther King, Jr., is a strong voice within the pro-life community. Along with others, Alveda conceived the idea to hold a Pro-Life Freedom Ride. It builds on the method the Civil Rights movement effectively used over forty years ago. Back then, thirteen students boarded a bus in Washington, DC and headed for New Orleans to test the new Civil Rights Law.

Father Frank is the national director of Priests for Life and Alveda’s partner in creating the Pro-Life Freedom Rides. For many years, Father Frank and Alveda have worked to focus on the connection of the civil rights movement of the 1960s with the fight to end abortion. By instituting the Pro-Life Freedom Rides, they hope to illustrate the important link between the two movements.

The second Pro-Life Freedom Ride began in Knoxville, Tennessee. Pro-Life leaders rode on a bus to Chattanooga, followed by a caravan of pro-life supporters. Host Brad Mattes boarded the bus to speak with several leaders about the significance of the ride as it related to the civil rights movement. He also heard how the Tennessee ride’s theme was supportive of post-abortive women.

The Pro-Life Freedom Rides are a true testament to the courage and success of the freedom riders of the 1960s. Leaders of these rides hope to see abortion viewed as an undeniable human rights issue.

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