Both sides of the abortion issue stand side-by-side on Providence Road
Mary Mosley, a 30-year member of the National Organization for Women, has stood along Providence Road every Thursday outside of the Planned Parenthood in Columbia since she heard of the '40 Days For Life' campaign, which began on February 17.
"They're praying to end it," Mosley says, as she stands holding a sign that reads "KEEP ABORTION LEGAL."
Mosley was initially accompanied by a large student group, which has now tapered to a few locals. Two other protesters, Beth Stepanovic and Joe Riling, each saw the protest from the road and were compelled to pull over.
Mosley, Stepanovic, and Riling hope to be representatives in support of Planned Parenthood just as Kathy and Mike Forck hope to convince women not to have abortions.
The Forcks are campaign directors for the '40 Days For Life' protest against abortions. A Lenten observance as well as an ecumenical christian ministry, the '40 Days For Life' campaign is something the Forcks and other volunteers observe every day, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
"On Thursdays we're here until the last baby," says Kathy Forck.
With representatives from various churches and backgrounds, the Forcks head a group hoping to make an impact.
"It's not only the babies that we're here for, it's the moms and the dads," says Kathy Forck. She provides those leaving Planned Parenthood with various religious and psychological informational pamphlets.
For Kathy Forck, Thursday was a small victory.
"One baby was saved today, right off the bat," Forck says recalling a woman who entered Planned Parenthood and left within two minutes, crying.
For Mosley and volunteers of the opposite opinion, every Thursday is an opportunity to provide another perspective on an important issue.