No one shows up for prayer outreach opposing abortion rights; Voices for Choice had rally across street

QUINCY — Local citizens recently were called to participate in a national prayer outreach to oppose reproductive choice and abortion rights.

However, no one showed up.

Forty Days for Life, a peaceful prayer outreach, announced in January its plans to come to Quincy beginning Wednesday, Feb. 14. The outreach was scheduled to run through March 24.

Participating citizens were asked to meet in front of Walgreens at 18th and Broadway in Quincy from 11 to noon on Valentine’s Day. No members from the outreach showed up from 11 a.m. to noon on Wednesday.

Attempts to reach Colleen Maalouf, coordinator of the local campaign, have been unsuccessful.

In response, members of the local Voices for Choice group rallied on the south side of the intersection to show their support and solidarity for women’s rights to safe legal abortion and reproductive health care.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Maalouf sent an email to Muddy River News on Friday night, saying five hours of prayer vigil were covered on Feb. 14 and 4-5 hours on Feb. 15, but Friday’s weather “lessened attendance.”

“One to two persons per hour is our goal,” she wrote. “This is our second campaign here at Walgreens. It does take momentum to increase awareness and participation. If we can cover 4-5 hours per day Monday through Saturday, that would be a great accomplishment. Also, many prayer warriors cannot physically attend but are dedicated to praying for our campaign.”