Watch the behavior

Has it ever occurred to anyone on the pro-abortion side of the fence that the best way to counter the pro-life message may not be by attacking the messengers?

A yearly anti-abortion event in its 16th year in Wilmington sparked some passers-by to pelt eggs at participants and pluck signs from their hands, while a worker at one business complained about their presence.

About 1,175 people stood along major roads and intersections Sunday, including College Road, Oleander Drive and Market Street, to protest abortion…

They held up signs that read “Abortion kills children” and “Adoption: The loving option.” The local event was part of a nationwide movement called Life Chain that takes place every year. Wilmington was one of 29 North Carolina cities involved.

Around North America, people in more than 1,200 cities and towns participated in the silent prayer vigil, according to a Life Chain news release.

Get that? They were in a silent prayer vigil, holding signs.

But some people unhappy with the message of the local anti-abortion groups hurled eggs at people on Market Street, said (Freddy) Justice, director of the Wilmington Life Chain.

Hurled eggs at them. What kind of behavior is that? Does that convince anyone that they’re looking out for what’s best for women?

And on College Road, apparently some people jumped out of a car and grabbed protesters’ signs.

What does that say about pro-abortion activists? Are they afraid of the message on the signs, or what?

On Oleander, an employee of the Mellow Mushroom was hoping they would move elsewhere.

John Satterfield, who waits tables and is a bartender at the Mellow Mushroom, said the protesters had a right to express their feelings, but he didn’t want them in front of the business.

“It comes across to some people as us promoting their agenda,” he said. “We come across as someone pushing it. The only thing we want to promote is pizza.”

Now there’s an honest guy. The protesters have a right to express their feelings. And he just wants to stay out of the fray and sell pizzas. Sounds like he’s kind of walking on eggshells, no pun intended.

He seems a bit more honest than the reporter of this story.

In the United States, the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision protects a woman’s right to an abortion. Likewise, the Constitution protects free speech.

Roe v. Wade made abortion legal, it did not protect a right that does not exist in the Constitution. But the Constitution does protect free speech. Even if you don’t like the message.