The science is clear these days: An unborn child is just that, an unborn child, not "tissue" as the abortion industry has insisted, activists say.
And when it comes to protecting that life, there's a younger generation that understands what is at stake and is willing to act.
Two recent examples are the successful efforts of students, in the face of strong opposition, to establish formally recognized pro-life clubs at Davies High School and Fargo North High School in Fargo, North Dakota.
Students Brigid O'Keefe at Fargo North and Katie McPherson at Davies High needed the help of lawyers at the Thomas More Society when their initial applications were rejected by school officials.
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"Going public with pro-life beliefs is not easy, but while we have seen a trend of high school administrations not recognizing the legal right of pro-life students to have their clubs, we have also seen a trend of really young pro-lifers not afraid to speak out on behalf of those hurt by abortion – preborn babies and their mothers," Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life, wrote in a recent commentary.
"Just look at the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. Everywhere you looked, there was a sea of young people," she said.
WND has reported for years the ongoing struggle for pro-life student clubs to be treated as other clubs in public schools. The same battle is taking place in colleges and universities.
Hawkins' group tried to do a voting registration drive a few years ago, she noted, and was unsuccessful "but only because such a huge number of participants were under 17 and couldn’t even register to vote."
"These brave, young pro-lifers are the face of the pro-life movement," she said. "So often the flames of passion for the defense of the preborn are lit during high school, and we are so proud of these pro-life students who have gone public with their stories of discrimination, because they are setting a tremendous example to not only their peers in their own communities, but also to those all around the country who are facing similar situations."
The approval from the Fargo schools came after the district was approached with a written demand from Thomas More Society lawyers. But the students had to be willing to stand up for their beliefs.
"We are glad that the district and high school administrators in Fargo have recognized the First Amendment rights of all students, including pro-life students," said Jocelyn Floyd, Thomas More Society associate counsel.
"High schoolers do not lose their right to form clubs and speak their message just because they are pro-life. Rather, they should be encouraged to add their voices to the marketplace of ideas, as the pro-life students at Fargo North and Davies will now be able to do."
O'Keefe submitted her club request in February, and at Davies, McPherson had been trying to start a Students for Life club since last September. Both were refused.
The letter from the legal team explained that the district needed to recognize the pro-life clubs, just as it would for any non-curricular club under the federal Equal Access Act and the First Amendment.
"I am happy and thankful that the school has approved our club," said O'Keefe, a sophomore at Fargo North High. "We look forward to educating our fellow students on the beauty of life at all stages and offering assistance to those in need in our community. I am grateful to Fargo North for approving Spartans for Life, and we look forward to creating a thriving club at our school."
Hawkins said the victory "should encourage any pro-life student to fight for the right to start a Students for Life club at her school."
"It is often in high school that the first fires of pro-life activism are kindled. Brigid and Katie are great examples of courage, standing up for their pro-life beliefs and fighting to protect the rights of the preborn."
Kristina Hernandez of Students for Life told WND the organization has faced opposition in hundreds of cases in which clubs have been proposed. Districts say the topic is controversial, or religious, and don't want to deal with it.
But she said the dedication of the individual students has been remarkable.
"Look at these high school students who have chosen to go public with their stories. Sixteen-year-olds have gone to their local media," he said. "They've really done such a great job of getting out their message.
"This generation grew up with the technology that it's so obvious there's an [unborn] child," she said, "not just a ball of tissues. It's a lot easier for them to see it. Once they see that, they realize this is the greatest human rights violation of our time.
"They're not going to stand by and let it happen."
Hawkins wrote: "Just this semester alone we have been helping students in California, Michigan, Illinois, Idaho, Washington State, Virginia, North Dakota and Iowa start their Students for Life clubs. In every corner of the nation, high school students are standing up for their free speech rights, which should be encouraging for the pro-life movement, the future of making abortion unthinkable and making sure every woman facing an unplanned crisis pregnancy has the support and resources she needs to choose life for her child is a bright one – a terrifying prospect for abortion advocates. In this way, we will end abortion in our nation."
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