Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this guest post are solely those of the guest author.
Dating back to the Girl Scout Cookie Boycott of 2004, challenging supporters of the abortion industry has been a hallmark of the Texas group Pro-Life Waco. So, when Walgreens and CVS accepted the offer from the Biden FDA to eventually fill prescriptions for chemical abortions, I immediately thought this was an opportunity for a “sustained encounter.”
The launch of monthly pharmacy outreach in Waco began on March 31, 2023, at a CVS pharmacy. When that pharmacy closed in October, Pro-Life Waco switched our location to the local Target department store. Like all of the 1,900 Target stores, their pharmacy is CVS. Our Target/CVS outreach began on Friday, November 3, and continued for each of six weeks. This included an amazing engagement on Black Friday.
After close to a year of Pharmacy Outreach, Pro-Life Waco delivered a double barrel challenge to CVS and Walgreens on the afternoon of January 12. CVS and Walgreens pharmacies are located on opposite sides of Estates Drive in Waco, Texas.
The tools used for Pharmacy Outreach in Waco are signs and a chemical abortion flyer. The signs are large, bold, and to the point about the abomination of CVS and Walgreens’ decisions. We hold signs and also display signs with metal stakes. Our outreach is educational beyond the quick messages of signs. The most powerful sign is the physical presence of pro-life foot soldiers. Sixteen participated on January 12.
PLW created a tri-fold flyer specifically for Pharmacy Outreach, to place in the hands and minds of travelers and customers. The flyer approaches chemical abortion from every angle, including abortion pill reversal and the dangers to the mother with a link to Live Action’s video on chemical abortion:
The case for Pharmacy Outreach is extraordinarily strong. This is clearly “public square outreach,” which means engaging a very broad cross-section of our neighbors. The priority is the undecided middle, rather than preaching to the pro-life choir or to hardened abortion supporters. The best time to engage in public square outreach is every day of the year.
Public square outreach is the main topic of my interview with Lila Rose for the Live Action “Exclusives” podcast series:
The most direct impact of each outreach event is weakening the public image and financial position of these two pharmacies. Our flyer presents instructions for how to transfer prescriptions away from CVS and Walgreens. Pharmacy outreach also incentivizes other pharmacy chains (e.g. Walmart and grocery stores) to remain far from this controversy. This maintains real choice for pharmacy customers.
We could be on the verge of a huge reversal from Walgreens and CVS. A year has passed, and they still have not begun to fill baby-killing prescriptions. Could it be that they have learned this has a much greater downside than they thought in terms of public image, staff training and acceptance, and legal exposure? Just last September, 24-year-old Alyona Dixson from Nevada bled to death a few days after her chemical abortion.
Photo by John Pisciotta
Beyond the impact on the pharmacy industry, all public square outreach events deliver pro-life benefits. The local business community sees with their own eyes that getting close to the abortion industry is bad business. We know the media is biased against us. By getting out in the public square, we become the media and counter their negative portrayal. By displaying our commitment in the public square, we encourage pro-life “fans” to get active in the movement.
Finally, getting out in public square outreach contributes to changing hearts, minds, souls, and votes. More pro-life votes are desperately needed for the 2024 general election, particularly on state ballot issues.
Pro-Life Waco has a grant to support Pharmacy Outreach in other cities. Almost every city has numerous outreach venues to choose from. If your group will get into the battle at least once a month, PLW can pay for a set of signs and provide flyers to build a collaboration.
Visit the Pro-Life Waco web page for more information on Pharmacy Outreach.
Bio: John Pisciotta is the Founding Director of Pro-Life Waco and the creator of the Facebook group Pro-Life in the Public Square. He is a Baylor University Professor Emeritus in Economics. He can be reached at prolifewaco@gmail.com and 254-644-0407.
