Press Release
Liberty Counsel helps personhood in MS.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Les Riley, Personhood Mississippi – (662) 760-8695
Liberty Counsel Files Response to ACLU Lawsuit Against
Personhood Mississippi Ballot Initiative
August 12 (Jackson) – Liberty Counsel will file a motion to intervene in a lawsuit filed by the ACLU and Planned Parenthood in Hinds County, Mississippi Circuit Court today on behalf of Les Riley and Personhood Mississippi to prevent the voices of over 130,000 Mississippi voters from being silenced.
Last month, the ACLU and Planned Parenthood filed suit against Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann asking the court to stop Secretary Hosemann from doing his duty under law and delivering the Mississippi Personhood Amendment (Initiative Measure 26) to the legislature to be placed on the ballot next year. Last year over 1000 grassroots volunteers helped collect and certify the signatures of over 130,000 voters across Mississippi to put the measure on the ballot in 2011. Initiative 26 would legally define the unborn child as a “person” in state law, ensuring equal rights to all people including the unborn, and setting up a possible challenge to Roe v. Wade.
The suit claims that Initiative 26 is unconstitutional because it violates the prohibition against using the initiative and referendum process for “the proposal, modification or repeal of any portion of” the bill of rights. Initiative 26 does not propose any new right, nor does it modify or repeal any portion of the Mississippi Bill of Rights.
When asked about the Liberty Counsel filing on their behalf, Les Riley of Personhood Mississippi stated, “The misnamed ACLU has been dishonestly perverting the Constitution and using court decisions for decades to support the denial of rights to unborn people. We want to stop them from denying the rights of Mississippians to participate in the process, vote, and ensure equal rights to all. I do not know whether Planned Parenthood is concerned that the passage of the Personhood Amendment will interrupt their systematic genocidal program against minorities or it is worried about the impact it will have on their profitable abortion-releated services revenue stream that is part of their billion-dollar annual budget. But it is obvious they understand that if the citizens of Mississippi vote then the days of killing unborn children and harming women under color of law may be coming to an end.”
Steve Crampton, a Tupelo attorney with Liberty Counsel commented : “We do not
believe there is any merit to this lawsuit, and are eager for an opportunity to rebut the baseless charges of the ACLU. Perhaps more telling than the substance of the lawsuit is the fact that several New York lawyers for both ACLU and Planned Parenthood Federation of America signed the complaint seeking to deny Mississippians the fundamental right to vote on a proposed amendment to our State Constitution.”
Pastor Joseph Parker of Tupelo commented, “Planned Parenthood has killed more African-Americans in a 7 day period than the Ku Klux Klan killed and/or lynched in the last 150 years. They are no friend of the Black community and never have been. This lawsuit is not surprising; this is very much in line with who they are and what they are all about.” Parker has served in the African Methodist Episcopal Church for most of the last 34 years in Mississippi and Tennessee. He and his wife Birdie are part the growing tide of pro-life minority Christian leaders; they have been involved in standing for life and against abortion for the past 15 years.
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Georgia Voters Say YES on Personhood Amendment.
Georgia Voters say “Yes” to Personhood Amendment
Throughout the state yesterday, citizens had a chance to express their sentiment regarding the important policy question of when life begins and when it should be protected in law. Select metro counties throughout Georgia placed the following question on their respective ballots:
“Do you support an amendment to the Georgia State Constitution so as to provide that the paramount right to life is vested in each
human being from their earliest biological beginning until natural death?”
The amendment passed overwhelmingly in all 46 counties. 323,474 total votes were cast and the average margin of voters approving the question was an amazing 81.1%!
Georgia Right to life chapters began work this spring in requesting that their local county parties place this non-binding “party” question on their local party ballots. Both Democrat and Republican parties were approached. Butts county was the only county to succeed in getting both parties to cooperate and approve the measure (Republicans 79% and the Democrats 72% . “There is no question that the people of Georgia would pass a Personhood Amendment” IF given the chance!”, says Dan Becker, President of Georgia Right to Life. “The ball is now in the Legislature’s hands to allow the people a voice on the most pressing human rights issue of the 21st century . . . deny them at your own peril.”
The passage of the question sends a strong message to our legislature that Georgia is pro-life and that its voters desire an opportunity to vote on the issue of when life begins. In 2011, GRTL will use the results of the ballot to lobby the Georgia Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the 2012 general election ballot. A super-majority of each chamber of the Georgia General Assembly is required to place the Personhood Amendment on the ballot. Once placed on the ballot, it would require a majority vote from the citizens of Georgia (50% plus 1 vote) for the item’s passage.
The following counties voted “YES” on the Personhood question on July 20, 2010:
Bacon, Banks, Bartow, Brantley, Bulloch, Burke, Butts (BOTH Republican and Democrat ballots), Carroll, Chatham, Cherokee, Clayton, Coffee, Colquitt, DeKalb, Dooly, Fannin, Fulton, Glynn, Gordon, Gwinnett, Hall, Hart, Jackson, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Jones, Lamar, Liberty, Lowndes, Murray, Muscogee, Paulding, Pickens, Pierce, Spalding, Thomas, Tift, Towns, Troup, Twigs, Union, Walker, Walton, Ware, Wilcox, and Worth.
Daniel Becker President(770) 667-3777 main
(678) 524-9504 cell
Press Release: Personhood In Montana Delayed, Not Defeated.
July 20, 2010 – Billings, MT – The Montana Personhood Amendment Initiative CI-102 volunteers received news yesterday that they were just 6,000 signatures short of the required 48,674 signatures to put Personhood on the 2010 ballot.
“These are all volunteer signatures, which is an amazing feat in and of itself.” commented Chet Gallagher, Personhood volunteer. These folks, both with the Montana ProLife Coalition and Personhood Montana, were working nonstop evenings and weekends to collect signatures, while most campaigns hire professionals. The hardworking volunteers see this as a stepping stone to victory in 2011.”
The Montana ProLife Coalition and Personhood Montana see the victory in submitting well over the required number of signatures, though not all signatures were certified as valid. Personhood volunteers collected nearly double the signatures that they collected in 2008, and as the trend continues, organizers are confident that Montana will see Personhood on the ballot in 2012. It has been reported that the CI-102 initiative broke records for volunteer signatures in Montana.
“All unpaid volunteers, this grassroots prolife network will work to influence the November elections and bills during the 2011 legislative session,” pledged Dr. Annie Bukacek, amendment organizer. “The killing of innocent humans is not compatible with a civilized society. We have barely begun the fight for the rights and liberties of unborn babies, and we will keep working at it until their personhood is established in our Montana Constitution.”
“Jesus Christ is building a movement for personhood rights of babies across the country,” explained Cal Zastrow, co-founder of Personhood USA. “He will continue to build in Montana, and they will stand ready. Although this year Montana citizens will not have the opportunity to end baby murder, we know will we have the chance in the very near future to protect every Montana citizen, no matter how small.”Personhood Mississippi responds to lawsuit against right to life and right to vote in Mississippi.
Personhood Mississippi responds to lawsuit against right to life and right to vote in Mississippi
ACLU and Planned Parenthood attorneys have filed an injunction against the Mississippi Secretary of State, seeking to disallow Mississippi voters from voting on the Mississippi Personhood Amendment.
Amendment sponsors and volunteers exceeded state signature requirements on February 17, becoming only the fourth successful ballot initiative since 1992. The one-sentence amendment reads, “The term ‘person’ or ‘persons’ shall include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the functional equivalent thereof.”
“I find it ironic that the plaintiffs would wait until the first day the court is open after Independence Day, then file a lawsuit that seeks to continue the oppression of the preborn and deny the rights of over 130,000 Mississippi voters,” commented Steve Crampton, renowned Liberty Council Constitutional Attorney.
In regards to the injunction, Lt. Governor Phil Bryant said, “It is unfortunate that certain people would want to block the protection of innocent human life here in Mississippi by filing suit. Not only are they trying to stop pro-life policy but are also trying to deny the voters of Mississippi an opportunity to voice their beliefs on this issue. Those of us who believe there is nothing as important as protecting the unborn will continue to fight to give Mississippians the right to vote to end abortion in our state.”
The ACLU has also joined forces with Planned Parenthood in Nevada, Missouri, and Alaska, employing similar tactics to keep Personhood petitioners and voters from exercising their Constitutional rights. In those states, despite costly delays, the courts have yet to issue a ruling.
“As to the statement that we are ‘redefining a fertilized egg as a person’ it has always been the practice of those who want to deny rights to others to use terminology to dehumanize them. There is no such thing as a fertilized egg, as the new life they are referring to is no longer an egg but a person with his or her own DNA,” explained Les Riley, sponsor of the Mississippi Personhood Amendment. “Further, The ACLU and Planned Parenthood attorneys allege that the one-sentence amendment modifies the Bill of Rights, yet the proposed amendment does not modify any section of the Bill of Rights, it simply clarifies to whom those rights apply. We are not in any way ‘amending’ the Bill of Rights. We do not strike out, insert, substitute any words, or formally alter the current Bill of Rights in any way.”
Continued Riley, “This is clearly a preposterous lawsuit, intended to interfere with Mississippi citizens’ right to vote, and to protect Planned Parenthood’s abortion cash cow. Planned Parenthood and the ACLU are seeking to protect Planned Parenthood’s one billion dollar a year profit, while Mississippi voters are seeking to protect innocent life. We intend to fight this suit, defending our rights as Mississippi voters and the most basic right of preborn children, the right to life.”
Regional Conference to Feature National Personhood Leaders
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact Keith Ashley
petition@personhoodkansas.com
Regional Conference to Feature National Personhood Leaders
July 14th, 2010 – Personhood Kansas, in conjunction with Right to Life of Kansas, is excited to announce plans for the Midwest Personhood Pro-life Conference to be held on Saturday, September 11th, 2010, at Riverlawn Christian Church in Wichita, Kansas.
The event will provide state personhood leaders across the country an opportunity to network with one another and determine the most effective strategies for pursuing personhood measures in their various states.
“We’re intent on protecting every child by love and by law in the state of Kansas, and we want to share that enthusiasm with others in the region,” says Keith Ashley of Personhood Kansas. “This is an invitation to every pro-life advocate dedicated to ending abortion. Whether your group is pursuing personhood in your state, or this is new to you and you want to learn more, feel free to join us.”
Panelists and speakers confirmed for the conference include; Rev. Walter Hoye, President of the California Civil Rights Foundation and Issues4Life Foundation, and a leader of the California Human Rights Amendment initiative; Rebecca Kiessling, International Pro-life Speaker, Attorney, and Adoptee who discovered her conception was the result of rape; Johanna Dasteel, Senior Legislative Liaison with the American Life League; Rev. Flip Benham, Director of Operation Save America; Gualberto Garcia Jones, Attorney and President of Personhood Colorado; and Keith Mason and Cal Zastrow, Co-Founders of Personhood USA.
“All of our guests will contribute something different to the discussion—experience with successful personhood initiatives, legal and legislative expertise, or an understanding of the moral imperative of working towards recognizing the dignity of all human persons,” Ashley continues. “We are going to be covering a range of topics and answering your questions. Please consider attending this important event as we determine the best way forward.”
This event is free to the public. A gift offering will be accepted. Catered meals will be provided. RSVP instructions, venue directions, schedule of events, and hotel options are available online at www.PersonhoodKansas.com/events.
Historic Campaign Web Portal Launched for Colorado Personhood Amendment
Historic Campaign Web Portal Launched for Colorado Personhood Amendment
MEDIA ADVISORY, July 2 /Christian Newswire/ — Colorado’s Amendment 62 personhood campaign is set to launch a remarkable Internet tool, MyCampaignTracker.org, on July 4th, 2010. The Tracker will help our state secure recognition of the right to life acknowledged by America’s Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life…”
“We have human rights because we are made in our Creator’s image and likeness,” said amendment co-sponsor Leslie Hanks, “and therefore we have a moral obligation to protect and love our children, born and preborn.”
MyCampaignTracker.org is a multi-functioning website designed to capitalize on the grassroots personhood movement in Colorado, and will be utilized to saturate the state with grassroots activity through November’s election.
MyCampaignTracker.org is designed to encourage the grassroots personhood movement in Colorado to reach local communities across our state with our campaign message of “Persons not Property,” through November’s election.
The innovative MyCampaignTracker.org answers the question: “What can I do to help?” Pro-life Coloradans select a campaign activity, follow simple instructions, and make their campaign efforts visible to other Amendment 62 supporters. Supporters can actually watch their efforts combine into a greater whole to make a difference on behalf of preborn babies in Colorado.
Colorado’s Personhood Amendment has boasted one of the largest volunteer signature campaigns in state history, resulting in one of the largest pro-life grassroots organizations Colorado has ever seen. In March, volunteers surprised naysayers by collecting 46,671 signatures, when only just over 15,000 were required. Colorado personhood volunteers are eager to begin using MyCampaignTracker.org.
“Personhood is a movement of average people, with average resources, fighting an enormous battle against the killing of human persons,” stated Keith Mason, co-founder of Personhood USA. “We have seen these people, many of whom had never volunteered for a pro-life cause before, band together with God’s help to post amazing victories in putting Personhood on the ballot. Now, with MyCampaignTracker.org, we have a phenomenal resource that can help us win in November.”
Amendment 62, co-sponsored by Colorado Right To Life and Personhood Colorado, states: “Person defined. As used in sections 3, 6, and 25 of Article II of the state constitution, the term ‘person’ shall apply to every human being from the beginning of the biological development of that human being.”
Tyrant Judges Trample 1st Amendment Rights In Nevada.
Nevada Supreme Court Runs Out the Clock on Personhood Initiative
Carson City, NV – June 18, 2010 – After sitting on the case for months, the Nevada State Supreme Court waited until the day after the Personhood Nevada deadline to now ask why they should have to decide the case at all.
On January 8, District Court Judge James Russell, in issuing an injunction keeping the personhood initiative off the ballot and preventing signature collection, ruled that the fourteen word amendment did not encompass a single subject.
The proposed amendment reads, “In the great state of Nevada, the term ‘person’ applies to every human being.”
Personhood Nevada filed an appeal of Judge Russell’s decision to the Nevada Supreme Court on February 12. Despite the timely manner of Personhood Nevada’s appeal, the Nevada Supreme Court waited until the day after the deadline to issue its order.
The Court Order read, “It appears that the initiative’s proponents may not have obtained sufficient signatures to place the measure on the ballot, thus rendering this appeal moot. This court’s duty is to decide actual controversies, not to give opinions on moot questions.”
Personhood Nevada was prohibited from collecting even one signature by Judge Russell’s decision. The Nevada Supreme Court was aware of Judge Russell’s decision, and its ramifications, one of which being that Personhood Nevada would be in violation of the law, and in contempt of court, for collecting even one signature.
“Clearly this is an offense to our 1st Amendment rights,” stated Olaf Vancura, initiative sponsor. “The Court delayed their response for so long that they now have the audacity to try to avoid a decision altogether. When the appeal was filed, the petition was not moot. The court, by its own inaction, may now possibly find the issue moot. This is a gross obstruction of my rights, and those of our board and volunteers as both Americans and Nevadans! The Supreme Court needs to decide this case now; if they don’t, we can expect the same injustices to repeat in 2012.”
Continued Vancura, “The state legislature’s small time window to gather petitions, coupled with the routing of all challenges through a single, activist district court, mean that it is nearly impossible for any citizen-led initiative to reach the ballot if challenged. Tragically in Nevada, the citizens’ right to petition is now, for all practical purposes, defunct.”
Personhood Nevada Denied Right to Circulate Petition; Prepares for 2012
Personhood Nevada Denied Right to Circulate Petition; Prepares for 2012
Carson City, NV – Personhood Nevada, through many legal battles, has been denied the right to circulate their prolife petition in the state. The ACLU joined forces with Planned Parenthood, tying the petition up in court and disallowing the many ready and willing Nevada volunteers their right to circulate the petition.
“We have several issues at the heart of this matter,” explained Keith Mason, co-founder of Personhood USA. “First, we have judicial activists ruling against the petition, despite the fact that nearly similar language has been approved in other states. Second, we have the anti-personhood media reporting that we failed to get the required signatures – when in fact, Personhood Nevada was not allowed to get even ONE signature. This is clearly a case of big money versus the rights of the citizens – but we’re preparing to try again, even stronger than before. ”
The people’s voice in Nevada has been silenced by those who profit from abortion the most – Planned Parenthood, with over one billion dollars in profit in recent years. Planned Parenthood, in conjunction with the ACLU, are fighting against the rights of Nevada citizens to circulate a petition for a constitutional amendment.
The one-sentence proposed state constitutional amendment states, “In the great state of Nevada, the term ‘person’ applies to every human being.”
James T. Russell, District Judge of Carson City, ruled on January 8, 2010 that the one-sentence amendment was a myriad of subjects. Personhood Nevada appealed to the Nevada Supreme Court, but a ruling has yet to be handed down.
“We have volunteer petition circulators who have been waiting for months,” added Olaf Vancura, President of Personhood Nevada. “Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and the liberal courts have stifled our ability to engage in free speech, legally maneuvering until me miss our statutory deadline, and keeping us from exercising our constitutional rights as Americans and Nevadans. We are determined that no matter how long it takes, we will not be silenced. The personhood petition will be approved, and we will protect all human life in the state of Nevada.”
For Interviews Contact:
Olaf Vancura 702-494-8229
Or
Keith Mason 202-595-3500
Personhood USA is a grassroots, Christian organization founded to establish personhood efforts across America to create protection for every child by love and by law. Personhood USA is committed to assisting and supporting Personhood Legislation and Constitutional Amendments and building local pro-life organizations through raising awareness of the personhood of the pre-born.
www.personhoodnevada.com
www.personhoodusa.com
PERSONHOOD NEVADA APPEAL TO NEVADA SUPREME COURT HEARING TO TAKE PLACE APRIL 6, 2010 IN LAS VEGAS
April 5, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PERSONHOOD NEVADA APPEAL TO NEVADA SUPREME COURT
HEARING TO TAKE PLACE APRIL 6, 2010 IN LAS VEGAS
The hearing for Personhood Nevada’s expedited appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court will take place at the:
Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas, 200 Lewis Avenue Las Vegas, NV 89101
April 6, 2010 at 11:30 a.m.
Commented President Olaf Vancura, PhD, “Establishing personhood for every human being is the greatest civil rights issue of our generation. The American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion profiteer, are trying to muzzle Nevadans’ 1st Amendment rights. On April 6, 2010, the Nevada Supreme Court has the opportunity to correct the flagrant infringement upon the people’s constitutional right to petition and vote upon this citizen-led initiative.“
Personhood Nevada is a grassroots organization leading a historic civil rights initiative to amend the Constitution of the State of Nevada, the proposed Amendment reading simply as follows:
In the great state of Nevada, the term ‘person’ applies to every human being.
Personhood Nevada will hold a press conference on site immediately after the court hearing.
Contact: Candy Best, Spokesperson 702 / 556-1134 candy@personhoodnevada.com
Mississippi Personhood Amendment Officially On 2011 Ballot
Mississippi Personhood Amendment Officially On 2011 Ballot
JACKSON / April 1 – Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann has notified Personhood Mississippi that enough valid voter signatures have been certified to ensure a spot on the November 2011 ballot.
The Mississippi Personhood Amendment states “The term ‘person’ or ‘persons’ shall include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the functional equivalent thereof.”
“The Legislature of the State of Mississippi has passed just about every restriction on abortion that can be passed. Still, about 3,000 preborn persons are murdered annually here. The churches and pro-life people of Mississippi are rising up to stop this slaughter, to recognize children as innocent persons, and to protect them by love and by law. We believe that the Mississippi Personhood Amendment will be voted into the Constitution, and defended,“ commented Les Riley, sponsor of the Personhood amendment.
On February 16, the citizen-led grassroots organization Personhood Mississippi submitted over 130,000 signatures, affirming the personhood rights of preborn babies in Mississippi. The Personhood Amendment is the fourth ballot initiative since 1992 to be placed on the State Ballot. This was the first all citizen grassroots led effort to make the ballot in State history.
“Glory to God! Mississippi has become the first state in the South to attempt to end baby-murder by recognizing the personhood of preborn children and protecting them,” added Cal Zastrow, co-founder of Personhood USA.
www.personhoodmississippi.com
For More Information Call:
Les Riley 662-760-8695, Cal Zastrow 601-454-4819
Personhood Mississippi is a statewide grassroots organization of concerned citizens who value human life. Personhood Mississippi is sponsoring the Personhood Amendment to the Mississippi constitution, stating “Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Mississippi: SECTION 1. Article III of the constitution of the state of Mississippi is hearby amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION TO READ: Section 33. Person defined. As used in this Article III of the state constitution, “The term ‘person’ or ‘persons’ shall include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the functional equivalent thereof.” This initiative shall not require any additional revenue for implementation.”
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