Project Truth, a pro-life advocacy organization based in California, visited De Anza College’s Main Quad April 6 and 7. With them came cavalcades of posters and flyers championing the idea that fetuses are beings of life.
“We believe that an abortion is an act of violence that kills a baby and no one should have the right to kill,” said Bud from Project Truth. “This is a human life issue, not a man [or] woman issue.”
For safety concerns, members of Project Truth publicly use only first names, Bud said.
Project Truth is a part of four different teams who travel throughout the country as proponents of pro-life issues, each operating under different names. Project Truth is based in California and has visited all colleges in the California State University system as well as those in the University of California system.
“We are really shocked about how little students and some faculty know about abortion,” said Don of Project Truth. “If they’re civil, we can have a dialog.”
Project Truth had four posters each depicting the graphic aftermath of abortions with dismembered fetuses and partially developed babies. In response to Project Truth’s presence, De Anza students staged an impromptu counter-protest during Project Truth’s April 6 visit.
“I came out of class and saw the signs as false advertisement,” said Sarah, history major. “If you’re an educated person, you know abortions don’t look like that.” She asked to have her last name not printed.
What began as three students verbally combating Project Truth members, turned into a protest of 11 people. Those walking by the Main Quad became so inspired that they joined the rallying student protestors.
“Those people [Project Truth] probably have months to prepare. We were just going to class and decided to spontaneously retaliate,” said Matt Wrightsman, a De Anza paralegal major.
According to Wrightsman, the students had no plan before the event. They proceeded to the De Anza Associated Student Body offices where they quickly drafted handmade signs advocating that a woman’s body was her own and the choice to keep or abort a child was her own.
“We already lost our shame a long time ago,” Wrightsman said. “We met so many people and new people we didn’t know, all [who were] taking an initiative [to protest].”
The student protestors were able to ready themselves from their sudden protest April 6 to a larger showing April 7. They felt it important to send a message to Project Truth (and those who are politically apathetic on campus) that De Anza students can be readily united for the same cause.
“Although we didn’t have fancy signs or resources,” history major José Romero said. “We had the support of the campus and the people.”
Sources (LA VOZ WEEKLY)
