'Cemetery of Innocence' Depicts Daily Abortions

Students walked passed the ASU library this week, eyes glued on the rows of wooden crosses that lined the grassy area. Many of the passersby appeared perplexed and confused, not sure how to react to the “Cemetery of Innocence”.

But when Lisa Myrice saw the display of over 3,000 crosses representing the number of abortions that take place each day within the United States she knew exactly how she was going to respond.

“I saw it and initially had negative feelings,” Myrice said.

She decided she would walk over and question the organization that set up the display.

Myrice said, “I wanted to know exactly what their views were and why they didn’t believe women deserve a choice.”

At the table that Myrice approached stood three members of ASU’s Pro-Life Rams organization. She engaged them in conversation, and, although her position on the issue did not change through the course of dialogue, said she did gain a greater understanding of the Pro-Life perspective.

“I think it is important that we can talk about such topics openly. The only way we are going to be able to make changes in the future is if we communicate with each other,” Myrice said.

Kim Schwartz, president of ASU’s Pro-Life Rams, said the purpose of this project was to show that “abortion is not a matter of political or personal preference, it is a matter of life and death.”

Schwartz expressed that she was excited to see that people who had questions or didn’t agree with Pro-Life Rams felt comfortable in approaching the group.

“That is what the ‘Cemetery of the Innocence’ is all about—spreading awareness and education,” Schwartz said.

“Each of the 3,300 crosses represents one baby that will lose their life to abortion today in the U.S.,” Schwartz explained. “The red ribbon represents the lives we would lose on abortion day when we still had Planned Parenthood in San Angelo.”

Vincent Salazar, a member of Pro-Life Rams, described the display as an awakening. He said, “It is one thing to say or hear the numbers, but it is another thing to be able to actually visualize the impact.”

Almaelida Lozano, also a member of Pro-Life Rams, said the group had anticipated retaliation to their project.

“We have seen how groups of opposing viewpoints have responded in the past,” Lozano said.

The “Cemetery of Innocence” was displayed Wednesday and Thursday, but due to previous occurrences of vandalism on the campus the university recommended the organization take down the crosses by 5:30 p.m. both days. The Pro-Life Rams, with the help of some local church members, were up setting the crosses by 6:00 both mornings.

“We are just so fortunate to express out First Amendment rights,” Schwartz said. 

Myrice agreed, “It is great that the university allows such a diversity of ideas to be represented by the student body.”

Schwartz said they saw a few people who did not agree with what they were doing but, “The overwhelming majority was supportive.”

She said, “ASU has consistently proved itself to value human life.”

For more information on Pro-Life Rams visit angelo.edu/proliferams.