Wolf Pack for Life talks diversity in the Pro-Life movement

Pictured+left+to+right%3A+Cessilye+Smith%2C+Destiny+Hernandon-De+La+Rosa%2C+Aimee+Murphy+and+Albany+Rose+talk+about+the+different+paths+that+led+them+to+the+anti-abortion+movement.+Photo+credit%3A+Christian+Willbern

Pictured left to right: Cessilye Smith, Destiny Hernandon-De La Rosa, Aimee Murphy and Albany Rose talk about the different paths that led them to the anti-abortion movement. Photo credit: Christian Willbern

Christian Willbern

Anti-abortion activists joined Wolf Pack for Life in a diversity panel to discuss social justice and stereotypes of the movement on Feb. 21.

Sophie Trist, English senior and president of the organization, said she wants Loyola students to know there’s more more than one kind of person who identifies with the movement.

“People think if you’re pro-life, you must be a white, Christian, misogynistic, conservative. Are those people unfortunately a part of the pro-life movement? No doubt about it. But there are also people who identify as progressive, feminists, atheists, etc. We wanted to bring these speakers to Loyola to break those stereotypes,” Trist said.

Trist added that the student organization focuses on more than just abortion.

“Yes, we don’t believe in abortion, but we also don’t believe in the death penalty. We believe in empowering human trafficking survivors, immigrant rights and LGBTQ rights. It’s more than just abortion,” Trist said.

Panelists at the event discussed a variety of topics ranging from contraception to LGBTQ rights.

“I believe that every human being has inherent dignity; and because we all have this inherent dignity, we all share in human equality. That’s why I’m a feminist; that’s why I’m progressive. Any act of violence is an act of discrimination against a person or group of persons,” Executive Director of Rehumanize International Aimee Murphy said.

While pro-abortion rights and anti-Abortion attendees at the event have different views on the contested subject, Naomi Serigmas, reshmen history major and Treasurer of the Loyola College Democrats, said that the panel covered common ground on which they can fight societal injustices.

“Although I don’t agree with a lot of things they said, I do think there’s some middle ground we can find on other issues,” Naomi Sierra-Gomez, freshmen history major and Treasurer of the Loyola College Democrats said.

The student led organization, Loyola College Democrats, is holding a pro-choice response panel March 14th.