One of the most controversial things your group can do on campus is raise the issue that abortion increases the risk for breast cancer. It may seem like a small task, but this is one subject area that incites the other side. Why? Because if American women knew this fact, there would be a dramatic decrease in the number of abortions.
There are many easy events you can do to spread the message: hold a table display, host a speaker, show a video, or host a whole week dedicated to this issue.
Remember, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so it is a great time to raise this issue.
1. Decide with your group the angle you would like to take for your ABC Link event.
- Table display with information, graphs, visuals, medical displays, and literature handouts explaining the link between abortion and breast cancer.
- Host a speaker, like Dr. Lanfranchi from the Breast Cancer Prevention Institute, to educate your campus on this deadly link.
- Show a video containing medical facts and descriptions, explaining the link between abortion and breast cancer. (Example: ABC LINK: Abortion Breast Cancer Link, What every woman has a right to know by The Breast Cancer Prevention Institute, featuring Dr. Lanfranchi and Dr. Joel Brind)
- Have a movie night featuring the HUSH documentary, which explores this issue.
- Students for Life offers a tabletop called “Abortion Betrays Women” that touches on the ABC Link. Request it from your Regional Coordinator.
- Any combination of the above, including other ideas your group has.
2. Choose a date and time for your ABC Link event.
- Choose a day on which your school is most populated.
- Choose a time in the day when there will be heavy traffic.
- Breast Cancer Awareness month is October. This is a great month to do this event!
3. Choose and reserve a location for your ABC Link event.
- Choose an area with the most student traffic, such as in front of the dining hall or student center, etc., or
- Reserve a room for a speaker, debate, or inside movie viewing.
- Reserve the area through the administration, and save all communications on the matter.
4. Secure your needed materials.
- Buy, rent or borrow your video of choice (if applicable).
- Buy materials to create large, durable sings for your display or event (if applicable).
- Buy or gather your handout-literature. See Breast Cancer Prevention Institute for good information on this.
- OR contact your desired speaker and arrange a time to host him or her on your campus. Contact SFLA for help with this.
5. Sign people up to run the event.
- There should always be a couple people from your group running the display or event for protection.
- There should be additional help to sign people up for your group email and meeting updates.
- Someone should always have a camera on hand to record any vandalism or inappropriate acts towards your display and/or members.
- Invite lots of people to be at any ABC Link event, as a crowd will draw even more people out of interest.
6. Be prepared as a group to field questions and concerns.
- Have information available on a local PRC and post-abortive material and references.
- Have your group information ready to hand out, so you can recruit new students to your meetings and events.
- It would also be wise to have on hand a copy of any communications with the administration allowing you to have your display when and where it is.
- Make sure your members are all prepared to talk about the event with all relevant facts.
7. Choose your theme with your group members and create your signs accordingly.
- Make sure all elements of the display and any discussions stay on message!
- Ideas: “ABC link: How Abortion leads to Breast Cancer;” “Save lives/Raise awareness: Tell women the truth about abortion and breast cancer;” “Pro-life=Caring about Women’s Health and Preventing Breast Cancer;” “Save Lives: Know you ABC (link);” “Breast Cancer Awareness Booth: Help us Save Lives Today!” “Choose his LIFE = Choose your life;” “Choosing LIFE means Choosing Health.”
8. Set up your display.
- Post signs conveying your message around and above your display. Post some signs in the ground with stakes and tape.
- Arrange and divide your handouts conveying your message and group info for people passing by your display.
- Send people out around campus to encourage people to stop by your table, evening event, etc.
Contact your SFLA Regional Coordinator at [yourstate]@studentsforlife.org for help exposing the Abortion-Breast Cancer Link.
