IN THIS ISSUE...
From Our Director
Ryan Verret and I are on our way to Washington D.C. for tomorrow's U.S. Supreme Court hearing on the Texas admitting privilege law. The court's decision, likely to be released in June, has major implications on our law.

In remarkable timing, the Supreme Court will also decide, likely this week, whether to allow Louisiana's law to remain in effect or be put on ice.  Read our feature article for more details, and we look forward to reporting back to you on the hearing!

Please remember to cast your vote Saturday in Louisiana's presidential primary. While our primary will not garner as much attention as today's "Super Tuesday" primaries, it is still important in this heated election. Do not forget to vote pro-life for a candidate we can rely on in the White House! 
 
For a Pro-Life Louisiana,
Benjamin Clapper
PULSE Weekends

Attention High Schoolers!
 
The first PULSE Weekend Immersion was a success, and there are two more weekends coming up. Register now to become a stronger pro-life leader for your community!

Covington:
April 29-May 1


And save the date!
Pulse Institute
June 19-24

Bowties for Babies

Lt. Gov. Billy and
Cher Nungesser

Help Us Reach Women May 10 at Bowties for Babies  

It's almost spring, and that means it's time to get out your bowties, seersucker and hats and attend the fourth annual Bowties for Babies: A Southern Soiree Benefiting Life.
We are honored to have our new Lieutenant Governor, Billy Nungesser, and his wife, Cher, as chair couple for the soiree that will feature live jazz music, delicious food, and a silent auction.
 
The event is May 10, 2016, from 7-10 p.m. at the Capitol Park Museum in Baton Rouge. All proceeds benefit Louisiana Right to Life's Advertise for Life project.
 
Sadly every day, approximately 28 Louisiana women choose abortion. The Advertise for Life project reaches these women through targeted online advertising and connects them to crisis pregnancy centers that can help them choose life. 
 
Will you become a patron and support this important project? Will you help us keep our ads in front of women across Louisiana? There are several patron levels to choose from, and each includes tickets to the event among other perks. Tickets are also available at the following costs: $125 per couple, $75 per person, and $50 per young professional (18-26). 

Oratory Contests
Pro-Life Oratory Contests Upcoming 
 
Two local pro-life oratory contests are scheduled this spring.

* Alexandria, March 31 at 6 p.m. at the Rapides Public Library. (CLICK TO  DOWNLOAD FLYER)

* LaPlace, April 2 at 2 p.m. at St. Joan of Arc School's Family Life Center. (CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FLYER)

Cash prizes will be given. Winners of the local contests can compete in the Louisiana Pro-Life Oratory Contest in May.
40 Days for  Life
Ted DiBiase

Shreveport-Bossier Campaign Ongoing  
 
40 Days for Life's spring campaign is under way, and the Shreveport-Bossier 40 Days for Life group is participating. The campaign began Feb. 10 and runs through March 20.

Ted DiBiase, a minister and former WWE wrestler better known as the Million Dollar Man, spoke at the group's kickoff rally held at Cypress Baptist Church in Benton. Lisa Gould, executive director of the Northwest Louisiana Pregnancy Resource Center, also spoke.

Organizer Chris Davis reported two saves at the campaign site at the Bossier City abortion facility before it stopped doing abortions last week when the 5th Circuit ruled the state could enforce the admitting privileges law. (See story to right.) He added his group counted nine cars drive in on Thursday, the day after the ruling, only to be turned away by staff.

The group is planning a celebration on Saturday, March 12. The event begins at 10 a.m. at the Bossier City Medical Suite, 1505 Doctors Drive, with prayers, comments and local speakers. Then the group will drive across the river for a peaceful prayer vigil at the Hope Medical Group for Women, 210 Kings Highway in Shreveport. This is one of two clinics in the state where abortions are currently being done.

Davis said the group continues to hold vigil at the Bossier site, which has not yet officially closed. They may move to the Shreveport site after the celebration on March 12, he said.

For more information call Davis at 318-349-3279
A 'Supreme' Week as Pro-Life Laws Take Center Stage at U.S. Supreme Court!
 
5th Circuit Allows Admitting Privileges Law to Take Effect in La.  

Last Wednesday, a unanimous three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals gave the state of Louisiana the go-ahead to begin enforcing the state's admitting privileges law, Act 620, approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor in 2014.
 
On Thursday, facilities in Bossier City and Baton Rouge stopped performing abortions. The New Orleans abortion facility and another in Shreveport, whose physicians have admitting privileges, remain open.

The state's fifth abortion facility, Causeway Medical Clinic in Metairie, shut its doors earlier in February and  surrendered its license to the Department of Health and Hospitals only days before the stay was granted. The Metairie facility is closed for good, and it is believed that facility's abortion physician retired.
 
This Metarie abortion facility closed in February, and two others in the state are no longer performing abortions since the law took effect. 

The emergency stay was granted at the request of the state, which is appealing a ruling by U.S. District Court Judge John deGravelles that struck down Louisiana's law and blocked its implementation.

In granting the stay and allowing the law to take effect, the three-judge panel accepted the state's arguments that the district court did not follow 5th Circuit precedent; ignored the state's rebutted evidence that more than 90 percent of Louisiana women would still be within 150 miles of a provider; and disregarded the secretary's determination that Dr. Doe 2's privileges at Tulane were sufficient.
 
The Center for Reproductive Rights, which brought the lawsuit against the state on behalf of three of the state's abortion facilities and two doctors, vowed an immediate appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to vacate the stay. That appeal was filed Friday, and the state has until Wednesday afternoon to file its opposition brief.
 
In 2013, the US. Supreme Court denied an emergency appeal to reinstate an facial injunction blocking a similar admitting privileges bill in Texas. Even with this fact, it is difficult to predict how the Supreme Court will decide on our emergency appeal. 
 
This Wednesday morning the Supreme Court will hear a challenge to the Texas law, which was upheld by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Louisiana Right to Life Executive Director Benjamin Clapper and Associate Director Ryan Verret will be present for the hearing in Washington, D.C.
 
While the Texas law is different than the Louisiana law and offers the Supreme Court multiple issues to decide, the court's decision will likely affect Louisiana's case before the 5th Circuit.

For now, the 5th Circuit's ruling in Louisiana's case is a win for women, ensuring that the state's abortion facilities are operating in the safest manner possible and with ready access to emergency care.
 
The ruling came as great news to those who worked tirelessly to get the bill passed, including:

* Rep. Katrina Jackson, author of the legislation:    
Rep. Katrina Jackson 
"This stay by a unanimous three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit is a victory for the health and safety of women who are harmed by abortion. I am very pleased the Legislature's interest in protecting both women and unborn children is being respected by this court."
 
* Dorinda Bordlee, chief counsel of the Bioethics Defense Fund who drafted model legislation for the bill:

Dorinda
Bordlee
 
"There is no constitutional right to an unsafe abortion. Women, who are often coerced or abandoned to abortion, should not have to pay with their lives for abortion providers who are not qualified enough to have hospital admitting privileges."

* Benjamin Clapper, Louisiana Right to Life Executive Director:

Benjamin Clapper 
"As we expected, the 5th Circuit has upheld the common sense requirements of admitting privileges consistent with other decisions on this matter. Even while waiting for the case's full appeal, we look forward to the health and safety of women being protected."
Abby Johnson Speaks at Pointe Coupee Fundraiser
A large crowd greeted hometown hero Abby Johnson at the Pointe Coupee Right to Life fundraising banquet Sunday.

Large Crowd Gathers to Hear from Hometown Hero
 

On Sunday evening, Pointe Coupee Right to Life welcomed pro-life advocate Abby Johnson back to her hometown for its annual fundraiser and banquet. 

Abby Johnson
Abby is a former Planned Parenthood director who now travels the globe sharing her story, educating the public on pro-life issues, advocating for the unborn, and reaching out to abortion clinic staff who still work in the industry.

Abby's amazing conversion story drew a record crowd of more than 250 people. This number included youth and members of growing local chapters of Students for Life, many of whom had recently journeyed to Washington, D.C. for the March for Life.

Abby was greeted with some special homecoming events during the night, including a surprise introduction by her mother, a presentation of a Key to the City of New Roads, and a closing prayer from the pastor of Abby's childhood church, First Baptist of New Roads.

The parish of Pointe Coupee is still buzzing with excitement and gratitude from the special visit of a hometown hero.

- Scott Smith, president 
Pointe Coupee Right to Life 
Vote Pro-Life!
 
DON'T FORGET TO CAST YOUR BALLOT IN SATURDAY'S LOUISIANA PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY!
 
Upcoming Events
 
March 19:
April 20: 
Pro-Life Day at Capitol
April 29-May 1: 
PULSE Weekend, COV 
May 10:  June 19-24: 
PULSE Leadership Institute, BR
Jan. 21, 2017: 
La. Life March South
Jan. 28, 2017: 
La. Life March North
Feb. 4, 2017: 
La. Life March Central  
 
Louisiana Right to Life
ProLifeLouisiana.org     1.866.463.5433    @LARightToLife

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