PRESS CONFERENCE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ATTENTION ASSIGNMENT EDITOR

August 19, 1999

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA vs. OPERATION RESCUE NATIONAL et. al.

In an unprecedented move to thoroughly squash the Christian witness at abortion mills in America, the United States Department of Justice has taken upon itself to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to pursue and sue the one force the abortion industry fears most - Operation Rescue!

Using the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) statute, the Justice Department is bringing to its Federal Court in Dayton, Ohio several named and unnamed defendants to prevent them from ever going to an abortion mill again. The case begins August 23, 1999 with Judge Walter Rice presiding over the trial. He is the judge who, by fiat, overruled the state of Ohio's law banning partial birth abortions. .

Why does the abortion industry fear Operation Rescue? Because Operation Rescue represents the Church of Jesus Christ fighting God's battle in God's way. Simple Christians living out their faith, day after day, at places where children die. The gates of hell cannot prevail against God's Church. The steady decline in the number of abortions, abortionists, and abortion mills attest to this fact.

"Unfortunately our own government, sworn to protect life, has become its greatest enemy. It has become a willing dupe in the hands of the abortion industry." Said Rev. Flip Benham, National Director of Operation Rescue. "The United States of America has declared Christians enemies of our own country. Never has more been spent, more malevolent legislation passed, more absurd court rulings levied, than this present effort to silence the speech of gentle Christians at abortion mills."

Miami Valley Law enforcement officers will join Christians from all over Miami Valley Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at the Federal Court House, 200 West Second Street, in Dayton, Ohio to reaffirm their allegiance to Almighty God and their sworn oath to protect innocent life. "As law enforcement officers we do not appreciate, nor condone being utilized as tools to further protect the morally wrong slaughter of unborn children by way of the partial birth abortion procedure."

EVENT: Press Conference and Prayer Vigil

DATE: Sunday August 22, 1999

TIME: 2:00 P.M.

PLACE: Federal Court House, 200 West Second Street, Dayton, Ohio

CONTACT: Rev. Flip Benham (972) 494-5316 or Dave Mehaffie (937) 258-3950

WORDS FROM DAVID MEHAFFIE

"It is clear from the wording of this lawsuit, that this action is not limited to the named defendants." Said David Mehaffie, the only native of Dayton named in the lawsuit. "If you or your church can be described as attempting to or encouraging others to, in any way hinder a woman offering her child to be murdered, you too can be "named" among the defendants. Janet Reno and the Department of Justice refer to this 'law' as Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE). In this case they seek $60,000.00 PER DEFENDANT and $40,000 per defendant would go directly to the abortionist. There is also the threat of 2 to 5 years in a Federal Penitentiary."

Dave goes on to say, "I in no way wish to be "rescued" from the wrath of this court. On the contrary, there is no place else I would choose to be. For if we stand idly by while judges pass decrees that support murder, truly we forfeit our own souls. Better to hold no to my soul in prison than to lie in bed with my wife and my children nearby, having betrayed all that I have told them I stand for. The enemy wages this battle, not only for the lives of the innocent and the souls of women who give them up, but also for the very soul of the church in Dayton."

A Public Proclamation from a Coalition of Miami Valley Law Enforcement Officers

The following Proclamation, along with personal statements, will be given by dozens of law enforcement officers at a prayer vigil to be attended by hundreds of people from all over Miami Valley. This is an opportunity to clearly state to our local community, our state, and to our nation that we oppose the killing of innocent children. As police officers we have sworn to and desire to protect innocent life

PROCLAMATION

Gathered here today are law enforcement officer from across the Miami Valley. We are here to prayerfully support the four men and two women who are on civil trial for allegedly violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.

1. We support their faith in God.
2. We support their moral belief that partial birth abortion is wrong
3. We support their willingness to act on their faith
4. We support their call for continued political solutions to this moral injustice.

American history is filled with examples of law-abiding citizens, who having exhausted political solutions to correct moral wrongs, have resorted to peaceful acts of civil disobedience. Some examples from our history are as follows: combating religious persecution, the abolition of slavery, securing a woman's right to vote, and the civil rights movement. Civic, political, and religious leaders have advocated and engaged in non-violent civil disobedience to bring about morally right changes in American society. The wholesale slaughter of innocent unborn children by the partial birth abortion procedure is no less a moral injustice and tragedy, than the injustices leaders have battled against in the past.

As law enforcement officers we do not appreciate, nor condone being utilized as tools to further protect the morally wrong slaughter of unborn children by way of the partial birth abortion procedure. We are gathered here today to publicly express our own faith in God and it is our prayer that true justice for the unborn will prevail.

Contact: Ronnie Bowling (937) 294-8706