Abolitionists Rising: Difference between revisions
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== Controversies == | == Controversies == | ||
In 2023, in [[Wichita, Kansas|Wichita]] | In 2023, in [[Wichita, Kansas|Wichita, Kansas]], a group of Abolitionists Rising members were confronted by a former police officer, who was identified in a video making threats, knocking down a camera, and allegedly injuring one of the debaters.<ref>Stuttgart Daily Leader. "Former SPD patrolman identified in altercation shown in circulating video." Stuttgart Daily Leader, March 17, 2023. https://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/former-spd-patrolman-identified-in-altercation-shown-in-circulating-video/. Accessed April 13, 2024.</ref> | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
Revision as of 00:42, 7 April 2026
| Headquarters | Norman, Oklahoma |
|---|---|
| Type | Religious Activism |
| Founder(s) | T. Russell Hunter (executive director) |
| Leadership | Rachel Burkey (administrative director), Sam Riley (media director) |
| Date Founded | 2018 |
| Theological Tradition | Abortion abolitionism |
| Website | AbolitionistsRising.com |
Abolitionists Rising (formerly known as Free The States before July 2023) is a Christian-run anti-abortion organization based in Norman, Oklahoma. The organization facilitated the creation of the Norman Statement on abortion, which lists the beliefs the organization has regarding abortion (that it should be consider murder, since humans from conception an onwards, are made in the image of God, and thus deserve equal protection under the law of the land) and the abolition of it.[1]
Key principles
In using the term "abolitionist" in its name, Abolitionists Rising also draws a parallel between pro-abortion rights rhetoric and pro-slavery rhetoric (namely, "My property, my prerogative" and "My body, my choice").[2][3] The organization calls attention to the religious motivation of many abolitionists during the Second Great Awakening, and frequently cites historic abolitionist thought as authority, including that of William Wilberforce, William Lloyd Garrison, and Frederick Douglass,[4][5] especially the belief that humans, from conception onwards, are made in the image of God and thus deserve equal protection under the law of the land.[3][6]
Activities
Online advocacy
Abolitionists Rising promotes laws and policies that advocate for the outlawing of abortion, indiscriminate of circumstance. In part due to the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022,[7] and in part due to the group's viral videos on social media (such as via YouTube Shorts),[8] the organization gained significant traction in 2023.[9]
Partnerships
The organization says that several of its members have joined from the abortion rights movement,[2] and have worked with former Oklahoma State Senator Joseph Silk[10] and Senator Dusty Deevers.[11]
Appeal through art
Much of the artwork generated by Abolitionists Rising is created by T. Russell Hunter, one of the main debaters who is frequently featured in the organization's social media content. Many of these artworks are put on posters, which are held up at art walks and other public streets to prompt conversation.[12]
Theological engagement
Often the debaters also opt for the use of biblical language. For example, they consistently describe abortion as "child sacrifice"[13] drawing a parallel between modern abortion and ancient Israel's infanticidal practices in its worship of Molech. Like the original abolitionists, the group also describes immorality primarily in terms of the category of sin, such as characterizing the practice of chattel slavery as the sin of "manstealing",[14][15] a word that harkens back to Exodus 21:16.
Controversies
In 2023, in Wichita, Kansas, a group of Abolitionists Rising members were confronted by a former police officer, who was identified in a video making threats, knocking down a camera, and allegedly injuring one of the debaters.[16]
External links
References
- ↑ https://abolitionistsrising.com
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Abortion 'abolitionists' in Kansas and other states want to charge women with murder." KCUR, June 22, 2023. https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-06-22/abortion-abolitionists-in-kansas-and-other-states-want-to-charge-women-with-murder. Accessed April 10, 2024.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Woke Christians Seethe and Rage, Say Viral Anti-Abortion Shirt is 'Racist'." Protestia, May 14, 2023. https://protestia.com/2023/05/14/woke-christians-seethe-and-rage-say-viral-anti-abortion-shirt-is-racist/. Accessed April 10, 2024.
- ↑ "Abolitionist Theological Foundations." Abolitionists Rising, May 15, 2023. https://abolitionistsrising.com/theology/. Accessed April 10, 2024.
- ↑ "Biblical, Not Secular." Abolitionists Rising, May 24, 2023. https://abolitionistsrising.com/biblical-not-secular/. Accessed April 10, 2024.
- ↑ Austin Gelder. "New anti-abortion group clogs Stuttgart municipal phone lines, city and emergency services plead for mercy." Arkansas Times, March 21, 2023. https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2023/03/21/new-anti-abortion-group-clogs-stuttgart-municipal-phone-lines-city-and-emergency-services-plead-for-mercy. Accessed April 10, 2024.
- ↑ Hannah Silver and Cloee Cooper. "101: Abortion Abolitionists." Political Research Associates, October 26, 2023. https://politicalresearch.org/2023/10/26/101-abortion-abolitionists.
- ↑ "'Abolitionist Rising' Becomes Most Viewed Anti-Abortion Channel on YouTube, Besting Major Pro-Life Orgs." Protestia, February 21, 2024. https://protestia.com/2024/02/21/abolitionist-rising-becomes-most-viewed-anti-abortion-channel-on-youtube-besting-major-pro-life-orgs/. Accessed April 10, 2024.
- ↑ Carter Sherman. "An 'abortion abolitionist' became an Oklahoma senator. The fringe is celebrating its big victory." The Guardian, December 14, 2023. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/14/abortion-abolitionist-oklahoma-fringe-victory-roe-wade. Accessed April 10, 2024.
- ↑ "2022 Abolition NOW EFBC Conference Registration." Free The States. https://freethestates.org/efbc/. Accessed April 10, 2024.
- ↑ A. O. L. Staff. "As more seek abortions elsewhere or order pills online, Oklahoma lawmakers seek tougher laws." www.aol.com, February 27, 2024. https://www.aol.com/more-seek-abortions-elsewhere-order-171927733.html. Accessed April 23, 2024.
- ↑ "Ideological enemies." WORLD. https://wng.org/articles/ideological-enemies-1686106201. Accessed April 11, 2024.
- ↑ Sascha Harvey. "Opinion: Keep your 'abolitionist' rallies off my campus." The Sunflower. https://thesunflower.com/80502/opinion/opinion-keep-your-abolitionist-rallies-off-my-campus/. Accessed April 10, 2024.
- ↑ Robert Abzug. "Abolition and Religion." National Humanities Center. https://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/ows/seminars/progressive/Abolition%20and%20Religion.pdf. Accessed April 10, 2024.
- ↑ "No Exceptions." Abolitionists Rising, May 24, 2023. https://abolitionistsrising.com/no-exceptions/. Accessed April 10, 2024.
- ↑ Stuttgart Daily Leader. "Former SPD patrolman identified in altercation shown in circulating video." Stuttgart Daily Leader, March 17, 2023. https://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/former-spd-patrolman-identified-in-altercation-shown-in-circulating-video/. Accessed April 13, 2024.
