Antiabortion Group To Fly Banners Depicting Aborted Fetus Over Montana Cities Until November Elections

The antiabortion group Center for Bio-Ethical Reform last week began flying banners over Montana cities with the words "Stop the war" and "10-week abortion" and a picture of an aborted fetus, the Billings Gazette reports. The group has flown or plans to fly its banners, which also contain a contact telephone number, over Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell and Missoula before the November election, the Gazette reports. Next week, the group plans to add another panel to the banner so that it reads "Stop the war ... against the unborn." The group also plans to drive trucks with billboards attached depicting antiabortion text and aborted fetuses into Montana cities through election day. CBR President Gregg Cunningham said the group aims primarily not to end abortion but to "reform the pro-life movement," adding, "Americans venerate choice. ... It falls on us to move the debate away from choice to what is chosen." Stacey James, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Montana, said PPM likely does not have plans to counter CBER but will help prepare patient escorts and staff members for potential demonstrations "just so they're prepared for it and know it's coming." Jason Klindt, spokesperson for U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), said he is not familiar with CBER or its initiative in Montana. Spokespeople for state Senate President Jon Tester (D), who is running for Burns' Senate seat in November, could not be reached for comment, the Gazette reports (Kemmick, Billings Gazette, 9/6).

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