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Saturday, May 20, 2017

Pro-Life Waco Action Update: Protest in Austin. Rally in Waco. & more



from John Pisciotta

Director of Pro-Life Waco

I haven’t sent an update for over a week. Our big Cocktails for a Cause outreach in Austin on Thursday the 11th was followed by a day of exhaustion. Then came four days of happy events revolving around my grandson Harrison’s graduation from Baylor University. So. This has been an unusual week for me. I’m back.

1. Cocktails for a Cause in Austin. We made their heads spin.
We wanted to send a message to Planned Parenthood bigwigs that they will pay a price for their decision to bring back the shedding of innocent blood the Waco. We succeeded with a high-spirited outreach on the sidewalks of Austin with over 50 pro-life foot soldiers involved. The best way for me to let you know about what happened is to simply insert the Facebook post on the largest pro-life protest in the history of downtown Austin. Also, I include some photos of the sights of this memorable outreach.

Planned Parenthood celebration meets pro-life rejection. On May 11, Cocktails for a Cause, was one of the two major fundraisers of Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas in Austin. Pro-life Waco had two big plans for greeting the abortion elite in downtown Austin. We hoped that pro-life foot soldiers from south of Waco would join us in Austin for the protest, life chain, or whatever you want to call it. We also planned that a “billboard” would be flown above us proclaiming “Stop Planned Parenthood: No abortions in Waco or the world.” The latter initiative did not happen because of the rain (rather light) during the protest. Darn it! The coming together of a pro-life remnant on the sidewalk in front of the venue was a big success. At least 50 pro-life foot soldiers from Waco, Temple, Belton, Harker Heights, Copperas Cove, Round Rock, Georgetown, and Austin were on board with high spirits as Planned Parenthood’s supporters arrived and walked by dozens of our signs to get into their festive occasion. Pro-Life Waco protested this event in previous years, but never with his many is 10 people. The reason for the surge this year is that just after Easter, Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas resumed the shedding of innocent blood at their Waco facility. At the Austin sidewalk, I had the opportunity to personally greet the CEO of PPGT, Ken Lambrecht. He earns a yearly salary of $405,000. As Director of Pro-Life Waco, I happily receive an annual salary of zero. I am ready to continue the battle with PPGT over their decision to kill babies in the womb in my hometown. The return of abortion to Waco and Central Texas has generated much opposition, which will continue. THANK YOU to all who participated in the outreach on 6th Street in downtown Austin. I hope you will return next year. We must never relent in our opposition to the shedding of innocent blood.





2. Rally 2.0 at Heritage Square on Saturday, June 10, 9-11 a.m.  Recall that we had a Rally on February 11 at the (likely) Planned Parenthood construction site. Now that the heartbreak of abortion has resumed in Waco, will have another Rally on June 10, to help us pivot to our calling of outreach to moms and babies and to prayer that one day Waco will not be on the Texas dishonor roll of cities were babies in the womb are killed. The location of this rally will be Heritage Square in downtown Austin. This is an attractive venue with plenty of parking. The Rally will be in the cool of the morning from 9 to 11 AM. Our terrific lead speaker is a convert from Planned Parenthood clinic manager to dedicated pro-life warrior. Sue Thayer managed a Planned Parenthood clinic in her hometown of Storm Lake, Iowa for 17 years until she was fired in December 0f 2008. The Planned Parenthood affiliate wanted to begin chemical abortions in Storm Lake. With this heart changing, eye opening experience, Sue led a 40 Days for Life campaign at her former clinic in 2009. The PP clinic subsequently closed!!

Below is a video featuring Sue and the celebration of the closing of Planned Parenthood following 40 Days for Life. You can also view it on YouTube using this link. 




Sue has a message that will help us understand the realities of Planned Parenthood and the urgency of contending with PP at every corner.

June 10 is the day before second Sunday. Sue has consented to stay on to be our Second Sunday speaker (with a message different from what she delivers at the Rally).

Please mark your calendar now. I will provide more information later about the Rally. Invite your friends, even out-of-town friends, to join you at the Rally. This would be a good time to invite your out-of-town friends to come to Waco for the Rally and visit “The Silos” of Fixer Upper fame.


This Rally is part of our effort to maintain the momentum for defending life and not let abortion become broadly accepted within the culture of Central Texas and Waco. In the prior years of abortion of--1994 to 2013-- parts of the Waco Christian community tuned out of active concern for the shedding of innocent blood. Abortion is truly a holocaust. If we believe this, our actions, our discipleship, must show it. If you are guessing that you and I will have an opportunity soon to engage in a 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigil, you are absolutely correct. Come to the Rally and absorb this and other plans.

3. I-35 Overpass Outreach on Saturday, May 27 10 to noon.  Weather should be great to deliver messages to thousands on Saturday, May 27, from 10 AM to noon at the pedestrian overpass near Baylor. This will be enjoyable and powerful pro-life outreach. If you try it, you will like it. With this pedestrian overpass near Baylor, Waco pro-lifers have the opportunity to spread the Gospel of Life message far and wide by simply taking a short drive to S. 8th Street. Please don’t take a pass on this if it fits with your schedule. Take South 8th street to I-35 and park near Panera Bread (1000 S. 8th Street). There is plenty of street parking available.

I commend you for all you have done to stand up for moms and babies so far in this year of disappointment, challenge and opportunity.




Pro-Life Waco is a local community-based organization with collaborative relationships with regional and national pro-life affiliations. Pro-Life Waco is committed to ending abortion, its damaging effects among women, and promoting chastity.  For more information on Pro-Life Waco, please use this link.



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