Abortion is Killing the Black Community
Editor’s Note: Even though the vote on this issue did not go our way, we are keeping this piece posted on OTR so readers can see for themselves whether the author's predictions following the vote are coming true.
Abortion is killing the black community.
The abortion industry has nefarious roots in hatred and racism. Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood, was a eugenicist who systematically targeted “inferior races” for decades. She opened her first clinic in a black neighborhood in Brooklyn.
This horrific moment was just the beginning. Abortion is still a lucrative business scheme in America.
Since 1973, this predatory industry has claimed the lives of 20 million black children in the nation.
Ohio’s black women and babies have felt this evil year after year. And it continues today.
The black community accounts for just over 13% of Ohio’s population, yet according to the Ohio Department of Health in 2022, 48.4% of abortions performed in Ohio were on black women.
Black babies in Ohio are 6 times more likely to be aborted than white babies.
The abortion machine guarantees that racial and ethnic minorities remain perpetual minorities.
This is not healthcare – this is extermination.
Whether you claim to believe “Black Lives Matter” or “All Lives Matter,” it is time to question our nation’s tolerance toward the violence committed against women and babies. I do not accept that in 2023, we cannot do better than pit mothers against our children. Accepting the status quo is archaic and barbaric.
I firmly believe that this debate is rooted in a simple truth: everyone deserves equal protection under the law and the right to live. We should be focused on defending the sanctity of life through the lens of love and compassion.
But Issue 1 takes this truth and throws it in the trash. It ends any meaningful conversations on protections for women and children.
This is why I spoke so forcefully on the floor of the Ohio Senate in favor of Resolution 215, which opposes Issue 1 on the November ballot.
This amendment, if passed, would be a permanent fixture in our constitution. As written, it opens potential floodgates that we cannot repair.
Late term-abortions will be legal, and health and safety protocols for women and children will no longer be standardized. Life and death decisions for a mother and baby will be made by abortion providers.
Sound familiar?
Issue 1 fuels the abortion machine more than ever against the black community.
More black children will die and more black women will be harmed.
I am one of a bipartisan group of more than 100 Black pastors and community leaders who have signed a letter opposing Issue 1.
The letter says, "As Black faith and community leaders across Ohio who are called to care for God’s people, we urge our fellow Christians, the Black community, and all Ohioans who believe in the inherent value of every person to vote NO on Issue 1 this November. The future of our state, our society, and our race is at stake in this amendment, and we must protect them.”
“This is not a party line vote, nor is Issue 1 a Republican or Democrat issue. This is a moral issue and for the Black community in particular, it is a life-or-death matter."
Life is worth defending, and Issue 1 targets innocent life.
History warns us against this dangerous proposal. We can and must do better than the devastation Issue 1 creates.
Instead let’s focus on building a society in which every child, woman, and family can thrive—regardless of their race or background.
Let’s begin that work instead of allowing more innocent black babies to die.
Senator Michele Reynolds represents Ohio Senate District 3
(Watch Senator Reynolds' moving floor speech defending life and opposing Issue 1 on the November ballot.)
Editor’s Note: These are the Black faith and community leaders in Ohio who signed the letter.
Pastor Daryl Baker, Destiny Ministries
Pastor Terry Banks, Hope City House of Prayer
Honorable J. Kenneth Blackwell, Former Cincinnati Mayor, Ohio SOS and Ohio Treasurer
Minister Norman Brantly, Eagle Rock Church
Bishop Charles Brown, United Fellowship of Churches
Pastor Ricky Brown, World Fire Church
Pastor Michael Bullock, Mile's Mission
Pastor Rick Burkes, Only Believe Church Dayton
Pastor Jerome Byrd, Good News Baptist Church
Dr. Marlene Carson, Black Leaders Against Sex Trafficking (B.L.A.S.T.)
Pastor Michael Carter, The Well Church
Pastor Teddy Ceasar, Destiny Church Int'l
Bishop Timothy J. Clarke, First Church of God
Pastor Frederick Clement, One Family Church
Pastor John Coats, Metropolitan Church of God In Christ
Pastor Leon Collins, Dayton-Eastview COG
Minister David Crowder, Faith Life Church
Deacon Raymond Crump, Freemont Baptist Temple
Apostle Arnold Culbreath, Douglas Leadership Institute
Pastor Lance Darden, Fresh Wind Worship Center
Pastor Charlie Davis, New Born Ministries
Pastor Arthur M. Davis II, Mt. Nebo Baptist Church
Bishop Harry Davis, Greater St. Paul Church
Pastor Gabriel Day, Last Trump Productions
Pastor Gerome Decarlo, Glory Evangelistic Ministries Church
Pastor James Delaney, St. James Christian Center
Pastor Kenneth Donaldson, Rising Star Baptist Church
Choose Life Ohio
Pastor Joe Dunlap, Bethel Temple
Evangelist Christina Dunlap, Bethel Temple
Pastor Judah Early, New Community Bible Fellowship
Minister Ruth Edmonds, Columbus Christian Center
Pastor Yaves Ellis, New Birth Christian Ministries
Pastor David C. Forbes, Jr., Columbus Christian Center
Dr. Tracy Forbes, Columbus Chris=an Center
Pastor Gary Frost, Steel Valley Baptist Association
Pastor Bobbie Garrett, Cornerstone Baptist Church
Mr. H. Goode, Goode Solutions Inc.
Pastor Taelor Gray, Linden Life Fellowship
Pastor David Gray, Signing as Individual
Pastor Karlie Hale, One Love Church
Pastor Reggie Hayes, United Faith Int.l Baptist Church & S.C.B.O.
Pastor Jeff Haygood, Living Word Church of Columbus
Minister MaHhew Hazelwood, Faith Life
Minister LaJuana Henderson, The Wave of Praise Digital Radio Station
Pastor Toriano Henry, Evergrowing Ministries
Pastor Rodney Jackson, President, African American Fellowship of S.C.B.O.
Pastor Taylor James, New Community Bible Fellowship
Bishop John Jennings, Kingdom Authority Ministries Int'l
Overseer Tina Jennings, Kingdom Authority Ministries Int'l
Pastor Brandon Johnson, Rock Columbus
Minister Kelven Johnson, Community U.C.A.N.
Pastor David Judah, Vintage Grounds Worldwide
Pastor Lonnie Kee, Strongpoint Church
Pastor Curtis Kemp, Good Life Church
Mrs. Bernadine Kennedy Kent, Former State Representative
Pastor John Little, Resurrection Baptist Church
Pastor Julius Lancaster, All Nations Worship Assembly
Minister Jeanne Madison, Signing as Individual
Minister David Mahan, Eagle Rock Church
Elder Sean Marshall, The PAW Patrol Ministries
Minister Angela Marshall, The PAW Patrol Ministries
Pastor Brondon, Mathis Hope for Columbus & the Nations Movement
Pastor John Maze, Agape Bible Fellowship
Pastor Byron McGee, Cornerstone Baptist Church
Apostle Arthur McGuire, Joshua Christian Ministries
Lady Charlotte McGuire, Joshua Christian Ministries
Pastor Carl Mitchell, Restore Church the Bible Way
Pastor Eugene Moore, Guiding Light Church
Pastor Wayne Moore, Greater Christ Temple
Pastor Walter Moss, The Father's House
Choose Life Ohio
Lady Darleen Moss, The Father's House
Minister Mare' Munala, Eagle Rock Church
Pastor Gerald Murphy, Garden City Church
Pastor Stephen Opoku, Hope of Glory Temple
Pastor Elgin Orton, City of Zion Church
Pastor Stephen Owens, Mt. Calvary Baptist Church
Mrs. Yvonne Pardon, Signed as individual
Pastor Claudio Penha, Harmony Church
Pastor Eb Penha, Rock Columbus
Minister Al Phillips, Signed as individual
Deacon James Ragland, Signed as individual
Pastor William Randolph, Pastors Legacy Ministries
Bishop Harold Rayford, The Church of Christ of the Apostolic Faith
Pastor Charles Redmond, New Journey Church
Senator Michelle Reynolds, Ohio General Assembly
Mr. Mo Riggins, Educator and Community Advocate
Pastor Gerald Saffo, United Faith Community Church
Pastor Antone Sampson, The Freedom Center Church
Lady Erika Sampson, The Freedom Center Church
Bishop Leslie J. Simms, Living Waters Christian Fellowship
Minister Sean Smith, Roar Ministries
Pastor Michael Spears, Fishery Ministries
Pastor Collin Stables, The Joy Walker Ministries
Pastor Debbie Stables, The Joy Walker Ministries
Pastor Ivan Stewart, Kingdom Modela Church
Pastor Geoff Stewart, Kingdom Models
Pastor Alfred Tagoe, Oasis of Love Community Church
Pastor Rory Tate, Center of Hope Bible Fellowship Church
Pastor Lynne Themalaras, Oasis City Church
Dr. John Tyus, World Conquerors Through Jesus Christ ministries
Pastor Gavin Walker, Calvary Christian Fellowship
Pastor Andre Whaley, Emmanuel Temple Apostolic Church
Apostle Brian Williams, Hope City House of Prayer
Pastor Gerald Williams, Yeshua is Lord
Pastor Shatisha Williams, Zion Christian Fellowship
Pastor Derek Williams, Zion Christian Fellowship
State Representative Josh Williams, Ohio General Assembly
Mr. James A. Whitaker Jr., State Central Committee
Apostle Juan Woods, Triumphant Christian Center
Pastor Mike Young, City of Grace