The display outside the New Zealand Parliament
"Is this not enough? 13,285?"
13,285 pairs of baby booties were displayed outside the Parliament of New Zealand today as a public memorial of the 13,285 lives lost to abortion in 2017.
The display was organised by Voice for Life New Zealand, and used boots knitted by thousands of people from all over the country. Each knitted pair of baby booties "symbolises little human boys and girls who are vulnerable and need love and protection."
Speaking for the unborn
Voice for Life national president Jacqui DeRuiter said they put out the booties to show Parliament and the public "a representation of all these little lives that didn't get a chance to live".Ms DeRuiter said although they were outnumbered by counter-protesters, support was shown by the thousands of New Zealanders who had joined together to knit the booties.
"We are here to speak for the unborn, to show Parliament that we do not need more-liberal abortion laws," she said."Is this not enough? 13,285?"
There must be a better way
According to the organisation, since abortion was legalised in New Zealand in 1977, over 500,000 unborn babies have lost their lives to abortion. Given recent trends, it is likely that an additional roughly 6,000 babies have been aborted already this year.
"18% of confirmed pregnancies in 2017 were ended by abortion," their press release says. "For every day last year, 36 pregnant women felt that they were not in the position to continue their pregnancy.There must be a better way forward for both mothers and babies, and we want to be part of finding that better way."
National MPs Simon O'Connor and Chris Penk were among those addressing the pro-life group. The booties are now going to be gifted to mothers and newborn babies around New Zealand.
Last year, Students for Life of America delivered 196,543 baby socks to Capitol Hill, each one representing a baby killed by Planned Parenthood.
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