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Sunday, May 17, 2009, fifteen members of Citizens for a Pro-Life Society were
arrested when they entered the parking lot of the Joyce Center on the campus of
the University of Notre Dame where Notre Dame commencement ceremonies were
taking place. Twenty-five CPLS members actually entered the parking lot of the
Joyce Center, carrying photographs of victims of abortion. These were aborted
babies who bodies were retrieved from trash dumpsters behind two Michigan
abortion clinics in 2008.
Members of the group were able to make their way through the parking lot and
finally stood within 200 feet of Notre Dame students, dressed in their
graduation robes, lined up outside of the Joyce Center to process into the
commencement ceremony. As Air Force One flew low over the parking lot, carrying
Obama to the commencement, CPLS members proceeded toward the ticket gates
outside of the Joyce Center. The goal of the protesters was to stand as close as
possible to the graduates filing into the Joyce Center and show them photos of
the abortion victims--found at the bottom of dumpsters, babies killed and placed
into the trash under a law that Obama supports.
Led by Dr. Miller, fourteen of those carrying the photos followed her past the
ticket gates. At that point they were apprehended by Indiana State Police and
Notre Dame Police, handcuffed and taken into custody. They have all been charged
with the misdemeanor charge of trespassing.
Those arrested were: Sr. Lois Marie Metoraj, Monica Migliorino Miller, Ph.D.,
Dennis Haymaker(18 years old and Madonna student), Jean Chase (Madonna student)
and her sister Tracy Chase (college student), Debra Anderson, Linda Schmidt,
Grace Allasio, Mary Giroux (college student), Dr. Terese Ranchor-Beste, Vicki
Reirson, Anne Mitzel, Joseph Tornichio, Joe O'Hara (78 years old) and Judy
Parran.
At least two graduates, one with tears in her eyes, left the parking lot after
viewing the abortion photos, and were persuaded not attend the commencement.
Hundreds of people entering the Joyce Center saw the photos of the abortion
victims and CPLS members were able to engage several graduates and their
families in conversation and debate as they walked across the parking lot to
attend the commencement ceremony.
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