Abolitionists Rising

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Abolitionists Rising (formerly known as Free The States [1] ) is an American anti-abortion organization based in Oklahoma. It is known for its categorical opposition to abortion and cold contact engagement with pedestrians, college students, and pro-choice or pro-life figures.

Contents

Key principles

Abolitionists Rising is particular about its distinction from the mainstream pro-life position, which it says makes compromises with the pro-choice movement, and deems the latter to be unacceptable. [2] In using the term "abolitionist" in its name, Abolitionists Rising also draws a parallel between pro-abortion rhetoric and pro-slavery rhetoric (namely, "My property, my prerogative" and "My body, my choice"). [3] [4]

The organization calls attention to the religious motivation of many abolitionists during the Second Great Awakening, and frequently cites historic abolitionist thought as authority, including that of William Wilberforce, William Lloyd Garrison, and Frederick Douglass, [5] [6] especially the belief that humans, from conception onwards, are made in the image of God and thus deserve equal protection under the law of the land. [4] [7]

Activities

Online advocacy

Abolitionists Rising promotes laws and policies that advocate for the outlawing of abortion, indiscriminate of circumstance. In part due to the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, [1] and in part due to the group's viral videos on social media (such as via YouTube Shorts), [8] the organization gained significant traction in 2023. [9]

Partnership with other abolitionists

The organization says that several of its members have joined from the pro-life movement, [3] and have worked with former Oklahoma State Senator Joseph Silk [10] and Senator Dusty Deevers. [11]

Appeal through art

Much of the artwork generated by Abolitionists Rising is created by T. Russell Hunter, one of the main debaters who is frequently featured in the organization's social media content. Many of these artworks are put on posters, which are held up at art walks and other public streets to prompt conversation. [12]

In many of Abolitionists Rising's videos on social media, passersby can sometimes be seen being agitated or upset by the graphic nature of the images on the organization's posters. However, Hunter often counters that this is a good thing and that provocative art has often been used to drive social change for good. [13]

Theological engagement

Often the debaters also opt for the use of biblical language. For example, they consistently describe abortion as "child sacrifice," [14] drawing a parallel between modern abortion and ancient Israel's infanticidal practices in its worship of Molech. Like the original abolitionists, the group also describes immorality primarily in terms of the category of sin, such as characterizing the practice of chattel slavery as the sin of "manstealing," [15] [16] a word that harkens back to Exodus 21:16.

Reception

The organization has also been accused of "[appropriating] anti-slavery messaging and imagery" by some in the pro-choice demographic [7] and being too extreme by some in the pro-life demographic. [17] In the face of such accusations, Abolitionists Rising members maintain that a national ban on slavery, too, was once perceived as an extreme stance. [17]

In 2023, in Wichita, Kansas, a group of Abolitionists Rising members were confronted by a former police officer, who was identified in a video making threats, knocking down a camera, and allegedly injuring one of the debaters. [18]

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References

  1. 1 2 Silver, Hannah; Cooper, Cloee (October 26, 2023). "101: Abortion Abolitionists". Political Research Associates.
  2. ↑ Silberman, James (2021-06-24). "How Abortion Abolition Became Southern Baptists' Official Stance". The Federalist. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  3. 1 2 "Abortion 'abolitionists' in Kansas and other states want to charge women with murder". KCUR. 2023-06-22. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  4. 1 2 "Woke Christians Seethe and Rage, Say Viral Anti-Abortion Shirt is 'Racist'". Protestia. 2023-05-14. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  5. ↑ "Abolitionist Theological Foundations". Abolitionists Rising. 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  6. ↑ "Biblical, Not Secular". Abolitionists Rising. 2023-05-24. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  7. 1 2 Gelder, Austin (2023-03-21). "New anti-abortion group clogs Stuttgart municipal phone lines, city and emergency services plead for mercy". Arkansas Times. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  8. ↑ "'Abolitionist Rising' Becomes Most Viewed Anti-Abortion Channel on YouTube, Besting Major Pro-Life Orgs". Protestia. 2024-02-21. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  9. ↑ Sherman, Carter (2023-12-14). "An 'abortion abolitionist' became an Oklahoma senator. The fringe is celebrating its big victory". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  10. ↑ "2022 Abolition NOW EFBC Conference Registration". Free The States. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  11. ↑ Staff, A. O. L. (2024-02-27). "As more seek abortions elsewhere or order pills online, Oklahoma lawmakers seek tougher laws". www.aol.com. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  12. ↑ "Ideological enemies". WORLD. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
  13. ↑ Liberal Artists Are Completely Vanilla . Retrieved 2024-04-14– via www.youtube.com.
  14. ↑ Harvey, Sascha. "Opinion: Keep your 'abolitionist' rallies off my campus". The Sunflower. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  15. ↑ Abzug, Robert. "Abolition and Religion" (PDF). National Humanities Center. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  16. ↑ "No Exceptions". Abolitionists Rising. 2023-05-24. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  17. 1 2 "Abortion 'abolitionists' in Kansas and other states want to charge women with murder". Nebraska Public Media. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  18. ↑ Leader, Stuttgart Daily (2023-03-17). "Former SPD patrolman identified in altercation shown in circulating video". Stuttgart Daily Leader. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
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