Driven to Extremes
By Neil Aho
© 2001 Columbus Alive

If you were one of the unfortunate drivers stuck behind the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform’s “abortion truck” earlier this week, you know what we’re talking about: Graphic depictions of six first-trimester abortions laid out on 22-by-10-foot placards were placed on the sides of an enormous moving van and driven around Columbus in an apparent effort to sway public opinion by… grossing people out?

“We’re forcing people to see and confront the injustice of abortion,” said Mark Harrington, executive director of CBR Midwest. “We’re going to force feed these pictures into the minds of the American public.”

The non-profit, pro-life educational foundation has been operating its fleet of vans in southern California for several years, but this fall marks the beginning of the group’s nationwide tour.

“With the recent events in New York and Washington D.C., there is no better time to speak to the American people,” Harrington said. “Everyone wants God to bless America, but how can God bless a nation who kills its own children? Four thousand times a day the tragedy of terrorism is wrought not by airplanes but by ‘choice.’”

Not surprisingly, local pro-choice groups have condemned the project.

“The kinds of pictures they’re using are meant to inflame emotion by misleading the public,” said NARAL Ohio political organizer Sara Osmer. “It’s simply not appropriate for an intelligent discussion.”

Apparently many Columbus drivers agree.

“We heard one woman call in to WTVN, wanting them to include us in their traffic report” because the van tends to slow down traffic, said Harrington. “We get the finger a lot.”