Anti-abortion bus tour makes stop in Toledo

Linda Theis waits to speak on the Toledo stop of the "Women Speak Out" bus tour. THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT Enlarge | Buy This Photo

The Susan B. Anthony List “Women Speak Out: Abortion is Not Health Care” bus tour made a stop at the One Maritime Plaza in downtown Toledo this morning.

The stop drew over 40 supporters and a small group of protesters. The stated aim of the 30-city tour is “to draw attention to the extreme abortion record” of President Obama and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D., Ohio).

Five women, including Marilyn Musgrave, a former representative from Colorado and the organization’s vice president for government affairs, spoke to the crowd.

“The government should not be in the business of promoting abortion with our hard earned tax dollars. We don’t want that,” Ms. Musgrave told the crowd. “This is the most pro-abortion president ever.”

Other speakers included Jill Stanek, a pro-life activist; Michelle McCauley, field director of the Northern Ohio SheVotes Initiatives; Ann Barrick, founder of Pro-life Connection, Linda Theis, president of the Pro-Life Action, and Rachelle Heidlebaugh, with Citizens for Community Values Action.

Pro-life supporter Savannah Marten, from Toledo, confronts pro-choice supporters Christopher Hill, left, Niki Aktipis, center, and Mark Farris, right, after the "Women Speak Out" bus tour. THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT Enlarge | Buy This Photo

The bus tour will make stops in Lima at 12:30 p.m. today and then in Dayton at 3 p.m. It will travel to 30 cities throughout Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, Virginia, and Florida.

Barbara Williams, 54, of Sylvania, came with three family members and friends to protest the bus tour.

“I believe that the right wing wants to take away women’s rights. Abortion means that you are dealing with your body. And health care is about your body,” she said. “How is abortion not health care?”

Justin Barasky, communications director for Mr. Brown, defended the senator’s stance for women’s issues in an email to The Blade in response to the bus tour.

“Senator Brown has a long history of fighting for women’s rights, specifically their right to make decisions about their own healthcare. Unfortunately some politicians as of late have been all too willing to put women’s health on the chopping block, but Sherrod Brown will never stand idly by while a bunch of men in Washington tell women what they can and can’t do when it comes to their health.”