Area Black, Hispanic leaders form anti-abortion group

A group of leaders in the black and Hispanic communities of Rochester on Tuesday announced a campaign to spread awareness about abortion rates among minorities in the city and elsewhere.

“At the current abortion rate, the minority population in Monroe County will be cut in half in just 60 years,” said Pastor John Walker of Faith Christian Center church.

Black and Hispanic mothers in Monroe County were the recipients of 4,160 induced abortions from 2009-2011, according to data from the state Department of Health. During that same span, 8,273 black and Hispanic children were born, meaning there was slightly more than one abortion for every two births.

Meanwhile, white mothers in Monroe County received 3,334 abortions from 2009-2011, compared with 17,065 white children born during that span.

Speakers on Tuesday called on residents to reverse the trend, and cited several reasons that the numbers were so high, including easy access to abortion clinics in high-poverty areas.

“We all know the core family is in great trouble which is a direct result of the moral erosion in our communities,” said Pastor Jose Rodriguez of Bible Baptist Temple Church. “In turn, the ... behavior of abortion is rewarded by tax dollars, as we continue to support the irresponsible perpetrators of supposed unwanted pregnancies.”

The group, which is calling their media push the “Am I Not A Child?” initiative, showed a 1-minute video which highlighted some national statistics on abortion. The video will be cut into a 30-second television spot and shown on television starting Jan. 20, said Ayesha Kreutz, president of The Frederick Douglass Foundation of New York.

The group said it is hoping to gain support in the community.

“We’re looking for people of good conscience to help support others in difficult times,” said Walker. “It’s sort of like, ‘I don’t need to shut down bars if people quit drinking.’”.


Isaiah 49:15
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.


Jeremiah 44:7
Therefore now thus saith the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; Wherefore commit ye this great evil against your souls, to cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling, out of Judah, to leave you none to remain;