Anniversary of Roe v. Wade sparks debate

THOMPSON FALLS - The Roe v. Wade anniversary stirred up a forty-year long clash of interests on Tuesday afternoon as peaceful protesters marched down Main Street in Thompson Falls holding up signs defending life.

The Knights of Columbus sponsored the sixth annual interdenominational March For Life, where protesters of the decision gathered at the Sanders County Courthouse and began the march promptly at noon. The Pro-Life protesters held signs, banners and placards voicing their opinion to all those around.

As they marched down the roadway toward Ferry Street, holding signs that said “Defend Life,” the group sang hymns.

The Roe v. Wade decision legalized abortion in 1973, making the topic of abortion a national debate that continues to this day.

Thompson Falls resident Tom Farrenkopf of the Knights of Columbus organized the event this year after taking over as grand knight for the time being.

This was his second year participating in the march and he continues because it is a cause that he feels passionate about.

“I don’t believe in killing the unborn and I think that’s the way that most of the people who participated in the march feel also,” said Farrenkopf. “Abortion is killing human beings. Life is through conception and goes through natural death. And anything we do to terminate life is not correct.”

A letter issued by Farrenkopf before the march stated abortion not only results in the death of unborn children it also results in “physical, emotional, psychological or spiritual injury of an estimated 36 million women and a roughly equal number of men, plus additional family members,” medical personnel and politicians.

Farrenkopf said that he was pleased with the turnout of the march this year. Although not as many people turned out as last year, this year the march had a police escort, which was appreciated.

Every year the opinion of the marchers is challenged as the other side posts up in support of the decision. And this year was no different.

Supporters of the decision stood at a corner on Main Street holding signs with Pro-Choice messages, voicing the right to choose.

Wade Nelson, a retired teacher and Thompson Falls resident, manned down the base with other liberals of the community.

“It’s easy to hold a sign in Helena and scream but here it’s different,” Nelson said. “We’re playing both sides of the coin. You need to speak what you think but at the end of the day, you have to brush those differences aside and live together.”

Farrenkopf couldn’t have agreed more.

“We don’t want to get into a battle with the people,” said Farrenkopf. “That’s one thing, people are entitled to their opinions and we have to respect that. We believe in prochoice too but we say the choice should be life rather than for death.”

In Plains, Terrie Woods held a sign on Railroad Avenue to support her stance on abortion. Her sign read, ‘Abortion stops a beating heart.’

“I do this for me,” Woods sai.d “I’ve carried a sign for 20 years, and this is just what I believe..”