Hundreds attend rally in support of Ohio heartbeat bill

by Operation Rescue staff

Dr. Jack Willke addresses the crowd at the rally in support of Ohio's Heartbeat bill.

Photo: Operation Rescue

COLUMBUS, Ohio, September 22, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Hundreds of enthusiastic pro-life supporters flooded the Ohio capitol on Wednesday to hear national pro-life leaders speak on behalf of a bill that would give legal protections to all pre-born babies once a heartbeat can be detected.

“This is an important step on the road toward restoring full protections for the pre-born,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman, who was featured at the rally.

“It will save thousands of lives now and lay an important stepping stone we can use to eventually extend legal protections to all pre-born children.”

Speaking in support of the Heartbeat Bill were Dr. John C. Willke, founder of National Right to Life; Janet Folger Porter, the event organizer; Joe Scheidler, pioneer activist and director of the Pro-life Action League; blogger and columnist Jill Stanek; Lou Engel of The Call; and others.

Three GOP presidential candidates, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, have endorsed the legislation.

The Heartbeat Bill passed the Ohio House in June, and is now under consideration in the State Senate.

Similar efforts are underway in Kansas, where a petition is circulating asking Gov. Sam Brownback to convene a special session to pass a heartbeat abortion ban.