Abolitionists Rising

In using the term "abolitionist" in its name, Abolitionists Rising also draws a parallel between pro-abortion rights rhetoric and pro-slavery rhetoric (namely, "My property, my prerogative" and "My body, my choice").{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-05-14 |title=Woke Christians Seethe and Rage, Say Viral Anti-Abortion Shirt is 'Racist' |url=https://protestia.com/2023/05/14/woke-christians-seethe-and-rage-say-viral-anti-abortion-shirt-is-racist/ |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=Protestia |language=en-US}}

The organization calls attention to the religious motivation of many abolitionists during the Second Great Awakening, and frequently cites historic abolitionist thought as authority, including that of William Wilberforce, William Lloyd Garrison, and Frederick Douglass,{{Cite web |date=2023-05-15 |title=Abolitionist Theological Foundations |url=https://abolitionistsrising.com/theology/ |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=Abolitionists Rising |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-05-24 |title=Biblical, Not Secular |url=https://abolitionistsrising.com/biblical-not-secular/ |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=Abolitionists Rising |language=en-US}} especially the belief that humans, from conception onwards, are made in the image of God and thus deserve equal protection under the law of the land.{{Cite web |last=Gelder |first=Austin |date=2023-03-21 |title=New anti-abortion group clogs Stuttgart municipal phone lines, city and emergency services plead for mercy |url=https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2023/03/21/new-anti-abortion-group-clogs-stuttgart-municipal-phone-lines-city-and-emergency-services-plead-for-mercy |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=Arkansas Times |language=en-US}}

Abolitionists Rising promotes laws and policies that advocate for the outlawing of abortion, indiscriminate of circumstance. In part due to the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022,{{Cite journal |last1=Silver |first1=Hannah |last2=Cooper |first2=Cloee |date=October 26, 2023 |title=101: Abortion Abolitionists |url=https://politicalresearch.org/2023/10/26/101-abortion-abolitionists |journal=Political Research Associates |language=en}} and in part due to the group's viral videos on social media (such as via YouTube Shorts),{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-02-21 |title='Abolitionist Rising' Becomes Most Viewed Anti-Abortion Channel on YouTube, Besting Major Pro-Life Orgs |url=https://protestia.com/2024/02/21/abolitionist-rising-becomes-most-viewed-anti-abortion-channel-on-youtube-besting-major-pro-life-orgs/ |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=Protestia |language=en-US}} the organization gained significant traction in 2023.{{Cite news |last=Sherman |first=Carter |date=2023-12-14 |title=An 'abortion abolitionist' became an Oklahoma senator. The fringe is celebrating its big victory |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/14/abortion-abolitionist-oklahoma-fringe-victory-roe-v-wade |access-date=2024-04-10 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

The organization says that several of its members have joined from the abortion rights movement,{{Cite web |date=2023-06-22 |title=Abortion 'abolitionists' in Kansas and other states want to charge women with murder |url=https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-06-22/abortion-abolitionists-in-kansas-and-other-states-want-to-charge-women-with-murder |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=KCUR |language=en}} and have worked with former Oklahoma State Senator Joseph Silk{{Cite web |title=2022 Abolition NOW EFBC Conference Registration |url=https://freethestates.org/efbc/ |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=Free The States |language=en-US}} and Senator Dusty Deevers.{{Cite web |author=A. O. L. Staff |date=2024-02-27 |title=As more seek abortions elsewhere or order pills online, Oklahoma lawmakers seek tougher laws |url=https://www.aol.com/more-seek-abortions-elsewhere-order-171927733.html |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=www.aol.com |language=en-US}}

Much of the artwork generated by Abolitionists Rising is created by T. Russell Hunter, one of the main debaters who is frequently featured in the organization's social media content. Many of these artworks are put on posters, which are held up at art walks and other public streets to prompt conversation.{{Cite web |title=Ideological enemies |url=https://wng.org/articles/ideological-enemies-1686106201 |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=WORLD |language=en}}

Often the debaters also opt for the use of biblical language. For example, they consistently describe abortion as "child sacrifice"{{Cite web |last=Harvey |first=Sascha |title=Opinion: Keep your 'abolitionist' rallies off my campus |url=https://thesunflower.com/80502/opinion/opinion-keep-your-abolitionist-rallies-off-my-campus/ |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=The Sunflower}} drawing a parallel between modern abortion and ancient Israel's infanticidal practices in its worship of Molech. Like the original abolitionists, the group also describes immorality primarily in terms of the category of sin, such as characterizing the practice of chattel slavery as the sin of "manstealing",{{Cite web |last=Abzug |first=Robert |title=Abolition and Religion |url=https://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/ows/seminars/progressive/Abolition%20and%20Religion.pdf |access-date=April 10, 2024 |website=National Humanities Center}}{{Cite web |date=2023-05-24 |title=No Exceptions |url=https://abolitionistsrising.com/no-exceptions/ |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=Abolitionists Rising |language=en-US}} a word that harkens back to Exodus 21:16.

The organization has also been accused of "[appropriating] anti-slavery messaging and imagery" by some abortion rights supporters and being too extreme by some abortion opponents.{{Cite web |title=Abortion 'abolitionists' in Kansas and other states want to charge women with murder |url=https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/abortion-abolitionists-in-kansas-and-other-states-want-to-charge-women-with-murder/ |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=Nebraska Public Media |language=en}} In the face of such accusations, Abolitionists Rising members maintain that a national ban on slavery, too, was once perceived as an extreme stance.

In 2023, in Wichita, Kansas, a group of Abolitionists Rising members were confronted by a former police officer, who was identified in a video making threats, knocking down a camera, and allegedly injuring one of the debaters.{{Cite web |last=Leader |first=Stuttgart Daily |date=2023-03-17 |title=Former SPD patrolman identified in altercation shown in circulating video |url=https://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/former-spd-patrolman-identified-in-altercation-shown-in-circulating-video/ |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=Stuttgart Daily Leader |language=en-US}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://abolitionistsrising.com/ Official website]

Category:Anti-abortion organizations in the United States

Category:Organizations based in Oklahoma

Category:Protestant organizations

Category:Anti-abortion organizations