Pro-lifers represent a movement for justice, not hate

Since the leak of a draft majority opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito that would overturn Roe v. Wade, attacks on the pro-life movement have gone into overdrive. But perhaps the most egregious attack came in a column for The Washington Post equating advocacy for the unborn with the wicked ideology of white supremacy.

Brian Broome, a contributing columnist, wrote: “The same sort of thinking about race and birthrates now dominates the conservative Supreme Court. The leaked draft opinion isn’t about protecting babies. It is about protecting Whiteness. Specifically, White babies. Many others have pointed out that if Republicans really cared about babies and children, they’d help provide help for poor infants, child care, health care, better funding for schools, and the like. But their concern is not about babies and children in general—only certain babies. The Supreme Court draft decision is about protecting what conservatives believe is a diminishing demographic and their most valuable resource: White people.”

This was written in the aftermath of the tragic massacre of 10 people at a supermarket in Buffalo, N.Y., on May 14, which was carried out by a deranged young man poisoned by the wicked ideology of white supremacy. We are right to be outraged at this attack on the dignity of those precious souls gunned down in cold blood, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, coworkers and neighbors. Racism is a doctrine of demons. In a country that has made enormous progress in moving on from our original sin of slavery, we cannot rest until all people, regardless of color, can feel safe in their neighborhoods and communities.

Yet, contrary to this Washington Post columnist’s assertions, it is white supremacy and abortion on demand that are fruits of the same rotten tree. Since Eden, humans have turned inward toward each other, striking out in violence. White supremacy and abortion are different species of the same sin—both see image-bearers, crafted and formed in the womb by a loving Creator, as obstacles to the flourishing of other humans. Each views human flourishing as a zero-sum game where the presence of another life—whether unborn or a differing skin color—is seen as a threat to another life. Such views on humanity and flourishing are not compatible with Christianity.

At the same time, the pro-life movement is in spirit with other historic movements for justice. Like Martin Luther King Jr, who demanded segregationists and indifferent white moderates to look upon black people and see their full humanity, declaring, “I am a man,” the pro-life movement has been pointing to unborn babies in the womb and refusing to let America look away from beating hearts, unique DNA, and the image of God upon their souls. Like William Wilberforce who devoted his entire life to the impossible endeavor of ending the British slave trade, pro-life folks have marched and protested and advocated and legislated, refusing to look away. Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan is right in declaring about America: “We cannot accept as a society—we really can’t bear the weight of this fact, which is why we keep fighting—that we have decided that we can extinguish the lives of our young.”

Not only is it outrageous to slander the pro-life movement by associating it with white supremacy, but it also misses the tragic reality that the abortion industry disproportionately targets black families. It misses the historic ties between the pro-abortion movement and racism. Last year, Planned Parenthood even took the step of backing away from founder Margaret Sanger, a proponent of eugenics and population control. Benjamin Watson, a Super Bowl champion and outspoken advocate for the sanctity of human life, made a striking statement to that effect: “When I look at a situation where African Americans are descendants of American slavery, make up 13 percent of the population and account for 25–30 percent of the abortions, to me that’s problematic.” Watson continued: “I look at this issue as one of justice, and the Bible speaks very clearly about justice and our righteousness over and over and over again throughout Scripture.”

Watson is right and Broome is wrong.

The end of Roe is not an American tragedy but a cause for celebration and perhaps the dawn of a new era in which the most vulnerable among us are seen not as inconveniences to be discarded but as full and welcomed participants in America’s promise of liberty.