As the abortion battle continues in Texas, a local YMCA chapter told Students For Life Of America (SFLA) to leave the premises after anti-lifers intimidated the assistant branch director to renege on their agreement to use the center’s shower facilities.  The SFLA had embarked on a 3o-hour bus ride to Austin to rally in favor of the pending Texas bill that will ban abortions twenty weeks into a pregnancy.  Pro-aborts have also staged demonstrations against the new regulations, which passed its first legislative hurdle in the Texas House.  The Texas Senate expects to pass the bill soon.

A press release from Alexa Coombs, SFLA’s Director of External Relations, indicated that the organization “was left out in the cold after the local YMCA was bullied by pro-abortion activists to evict SFLA students from their facilities.”  Additionally:

“We had absolutely no problems on Monday night when we used their facilities.The YMCA management was respectful, but some angry pro-abortion activists were being very aggressive with YMCA staff members and the staff said they felt threatened,” said Brendan O’Morchoe, Director of Field Operations with SFLA. ”Unfortunately, the anger and rage from the pro-abortion protestors has created a toxic environment even outside the Capitol Building.  It’s really a shame that the YMCA was bullied by these people, it just goes to show how pro–aborts operate every day.

“The YMCA has a long history of helping young people and always had an open door policy to everyone, yet we were turned away because of our pro-life beliefs. The YMCA rescinded their offer to help because of the complaints of a few people on one side of the abortion issue and we were discriminated against based on our political position.”

SFLA was left scrambling to find other locations at which to bathe as the church buildings they are staying at do not have shower facilities.

One activist told me that anti-lifers are outnumbered in Austin, but they’re loud. Their rally in the Capitol featured many taking off their shoes and shouting “shame on you” to legislators as they passed by.

Nevertheless, while pro-aborts may have stopped the SFLA activists from finding showers, pro-life legislators – and their allies – are moving forward in eliminating late-term abortions in Texas.  Maureen Ferguson of the Catholic Association praised Rick Perry for his efforts saying:

‘We commend Governor Perry for calling the special session and the Texas House for passing common sense measures to protect unborn children after 20 weeks gestation and pregnant women who often suffer from substandard care at abortion clinics. It is difficult to understand opposition to a bill that seeks to raise standards for women’s health and limits the inhumane and heart breaking practice of late-term abortion.  The bill, which is expected to pass in the Senate as well, reflects accurately how Texans and Americans feel about late-term abortions in a post-Gosnell era.’

Additionally, in a July 9 statement, Lila Rose, President of Live Action, said:

‘Right now, in many cases across the country, it’s easier to be an abortionist than it is to run a daycare center. Governor Perry and the Texas legislature should be commended for taking a step toward rectifying this bizarre and dangerous defect that endangers the lives of both women and children.  As exposed by our Inhuman video series, so many abortion centers throughout our nation currently do not have emergency medical arrangements with local hospitals or other urgent care facilities. No matter where you stand on the issue of abortion, this sort of laxity and disregard for women’s health is outrageous and unacceptable.  Everyone should support putting necessary medical protections in place and enforcing top-quality standards of care for women and children.’

So, pro-aborts can relish in their little win over the YMCA, but the SLFA – and the pro-life movement – will soon celebrate a huge victory in the Texas legislature.