RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia House of Delegates has passed a resolution recognizing Sunday, January 22, which marks the 44th year since the U.S. Supreme Court issued its infamous abortion ruling in Roe v. Wade, as the “Day of Tears.”
House Resolution 268 was presented by Del. Ben Cline, R-Rockbridge, and urges Virginia residents to lower their flags half-staff as a statement regarding the nearly 60 million children who have been murdered at the hands of abortionists.
“Whereas, on January 22, 1973, the majority of the members of the Supreme Court ruled that abortion was a right secured by the Constitution; and whereas, since that fateful day, over 58 million unborn children have perished; now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of Delegates, that January 22 hereby be recognized as the Day of Tears in Virginia and that the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia be encouraged to lower their flags to half-staff to mourn the innocents who have lost their lives to abortion,” it reads.
The resolution passed on the House on Wednesday 57 to 36. It does not need approval in the Senate as it is only a House effort.
“By making a visual step in support of life, hopefully we can help save lives,” Cline remarked at a press conference. “And ultimately, this is what that’s all about.”
Cline’s proposal mirrored the effort of a local pro-life group, which was the mastermind behind the flag-lowering concept.
“January 22nd is a grim date in history, filled with sorrow and regret. It is a date that has produced an ocean of tears,” reads the organization’s website. “Over 58 million children never had the chance to laugh, to love or to live.”
“When people awaken on January 22nd and go about their daily travels, they will see flags lowered in mourning and ask, ‘Who died?’ The answer to that question may lead some to conclude that it is time to end the tears,” it outlines.
Abortion advocacy groups criticized the resolution as one meant to make women feel guilty.
“This resolution was yet another example of Virginia politicians trying to shame women for their personal reproductive decisions and stigmatize abortion,” wrote the Virginia chapter of NARAL.
“In addition to imposing multiple restrictions that make accessing abortion as difficult as possible for Virginia women, these politicians now also want to tell women who’ve had an abortion how to feel and show them their government disrespects their decisions,” it said.
As previously reported, Roe v. Wade centered on a Texas woman named Norma McCorvey who sought an abortion over an alleged rape. McCorvey later admitted that she had lied, writing in her book “I Am Roe” that she made up the rape story at the advice of her feminist attorneys to make her case more convincing.
She also never obtained an abortion, but placed her child up for adoption and went on to become a vocal pro-life advocate, even going to court in an effort to overturn the ruling.
“My decisions were wrong and I am fighting with every breath to change what has occurred,” McCorvey, a Roman Catholic, said in 2008.
Out of the seven justices that ruled in favor of Roe, five were Republican-appointed. The court discussed the reasons why abortion has historically been outlawed in the nation, including the binding vow of the Hippocratic Oath and the influence of Christian ethics. It also noted that in pagan nations such as Greece and Rome, “[a]ncient religion did not bar abortion.”
Judge Harry Blackmun, nominated by Richard Nixon, wrote the majority opinion issued on Jan. 22, 1973. Blackmun stated that the Constitution does not include the unborn as being persons, and therefore, they may not receive equal protection.
“The Constitution does not define ‘person’ in so many words,” he wrote. “[I]n nearly all these instances [where it is cited], the use of the word is such that it has application only post-natally. None indicates, with any assurance, that it has any possible pre-natal application.”
Abortion is Murder from I'll Be Honest on Vimeo.
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