A group of abortion foes launched its national convention in Denver this weekend by denouncing nearly everyone – Jews, Muslims, Episcopalians, gays, lesbians, even Focus on the Family.
Operation Save America, formerly Operation Rescue, brought about 200 members to Denver for its week-long convention, Operation Save Denver, held at Redeemer Community Church, West 32nd Avenue and Lowell Boulevard.
Demonstrators and sign-wavers got right to work, some traveling to a large Muslim mosque in Aurora early Saturday morning. On Sunday, some picketed a gay-pride parade in Colorado Springs, some sat outside services at St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral, a Unitarian Church and a gay community church, while others went to the suburban homes of two physicians who perform abortions for Planned Parenthood Inc.
The group’s literature said that Focus on the Family’s “25-year strategy” of supporting legislators who confirm anti-abortion judges “has utterly failed.”
“We are trying to get out the real truth,” said Joseph Parente, a group leader. “Islam is full of lies. Those who believe in Jesus believe in the wrong Jesus, the wrong message.”
One of the largest displays of opposition to the group was in the Cherry Hills Vista neighborhood south of Cherry Creek Reservoir. In vans, demonstrators from Texas, North Carolina and Florida drove to the home of Dr. Reid Goodman, but were forced to park blocks away because neighbors had emptied their three-car garages and parked in every legal parking space on the streets.
Most yards, including Goodman’s, had blue signs stating “We support our friend and neighbor Dr. Reid Goodman.”
Goodman’s family hosted a neighborhood barbecue in the back as demonstrators walked past patrol cars in the cul-de-sac out front.
“They have a right to demonstrate, but they don’t have a right to disrupt people’s lives,” said neighbor Jeff Gardner, while munching on corn chips inside the Goodmans’ house. “I think they’re obnoxious.”
His wife, Shelley, was more emphatic. “What’s so upsetting are the photos they have on the sides of their vans,” which allegedly show aborted 10-week-old fetuses. “It’s upsetting to our children.
Demonstrators also marched in front of Dr. Ed O’Loughlin’s house, without incident, as deputies watched.
“We haven’t had any problems with them,” said Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson. “Yesterday at the mosque got a little noisy. But it also was a wonderful example of how to deal with them. The imam came out and had a dialogue with them about tolerance.”
At St. John’s Episcopal Church, demonstrators sang and paraded more pictures, which caused a number of drivers to telephone complaints to authorities, police said. But there were no confrontations, according to Scott Patton, head of the local Guardian Angels group that patrolled the church during services.
Operation Save America plans to continue demonstrations throughout the week.
