Press Release

Colorado Personhood Amendment Encounters Historical March for Life Success, Legal Setbacks

Contact: Keith Mason, Personhood USA, 202-595-3500 ext. 1

DENVER, Jan. 25 /Christian Newswire/ — Friday’s Colorado March for Life, presented by Colorado Right to Life, was the largest in recent history, with marchers at the State Capitol numbering nearly 1,500. The march was marked by an unprecedented number of teens, with young people making up the majority of participants.

‘Personhood’ was the theme, with each speaker highlighting the need to recognize Personhood rights for preborn babies from the moment of their biological beginning. The Personhood USA slogan “Persons Not Property” was displayed prominently, and chants of “Roe v. Wade has got to go!” resounded through the streets surrounding the March.

The March for Life began with a press conference featuring film and television star Eduardo Verastegui. “I am here to support the Personhood movement, and to ask everyone to sign the petition so we can pass this amendment,” declared Verastegui. “Coming from Mexico, I come from a different perspective where the personhood movement is a reality…I am very proud to tell you that in over half of the country, 17 states already, life is protected from the moment of conception to natural death. I would love to see that reality here in America.”

Speakers included Maria Lancaster, a mom who adopted her daughter Elisha as a frozen embryo, Rebecca Keissling, author of “Conceived in Rape: A Story of Hope”, and Pastor Jim Shaddix from Riverside Baptist Church.

Prominent figures included Denver Bishop James D. Conley, Senator Scott Renfroe, Senator Dave Schultheis, Senator Kevin Lundberg, State Representative Amy Stephens, State Representative B.J. Nikkel, State Representative Cory Gardner, Tom Lucero, currently running for Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, and Jimmy Lakey, currently running for Colorado’s 7th Congressional District.

“It was amazing to see such a sizeable crowd standing as a witness for pre-born babies. The West side of the Capitol was filled to overflowing!” remarked Gualberto Garcia-Jones, co-sponsor of the Colorado Personhood Amendment. “Volunteers returned hundreds of full petitions, and we passed out hundreds of blank petitions to both existing and new volunteers.”

Along with the large turnout and petition success came some negative news from the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office. The deadline date has changed from February 15th to February 12th, losing a critical weekend for the signature drive. “We are disappointed by this news, but not discouraged,” continued Garcia-Jones. “We will continue to work day and night to ensure we have the signatures needed to get on the ballot.”

Pastors Commit Sanctity of Life Sunday to Petitioning for Preborn Lives
Washington D.C., January 13, 2010 – Pastors across the nation have committed to using January 24 – traditionally Sanctity of Life Sunday – as an opportunity to put their faith in action and gather signatures for the Personhood movement.

“At First Baptist Jackson, we are thrilled to give our people the opportunity to sign a petition to put the Personhood Initiative on the ballot,” stated Pastor Stan Buckley, Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Jackson, Mississippi. “Abortion – the taking of innocent human life – is one of the most important issues facing our state and our nation. We encourage more Christians and more churches to get involved in the fight for life. Getting the Personhood initiative on the ballot is a huge step because we believe the people of Mississippi, if given the opportunity, will choose life!”

Petition drives in Colorado and Mississippi are getting close to having enough signatures to put personhood amendments on the ballot. “In every Personhood campaign, churches are the key,” explained Keith Mason, cofounder of Personhood USA. “This year, we are very excited that hundreds of churches around the country will be honoring the sanctity of life.”

“By default, we are called to protect human life with our God given rights and resources,” added Pastor Adam Briggs of Damascus Road Bible Fellowship in Indiana. “Let all pastors join together and publicly declare the personhood of all human beings!”

Currently Montana, Colorado, Mississippi, Florida and California are all gathering signatures to put personhood amendments on their state’s ballot. In these states pastors can celebrate Petition for Life Sunday by collecting signatures to protect every child by love and by law.

In other states, pastors can encourage their flocks to restore the dignity of every human person, by supporting or even leading the personhood efforts in their state. Over 40 states are working towards Personhood for all human beings.

More information about Petition for Life Sunday is available at www.PersonhoodUSA.com.

“We will win the battle and restore dignity to every human person in America! Let’s use the coming sanctity of life Sunday to protect children not just in word, but also in deed by affirming their personhood rights in our law and by love,” concluded Mason.

Personhood USA is a grassroots Christian organization founded to establish personhood efforts across America to create protection for every child by love and by law. Personhood USA is committed to assisting and supporting Personhood Legislation and Constitutional Amendments and building local pro-life organizations through raising awareness of the personhood of the pre-born.

Colorado Secretary of State’s Title Board Unanimously Approves Proposed Personhood Amendment Language

For Immediate Release

 August 5, 2009 Denver, Colorado – The offices of the Colorado Attorney General, The Secretary of State, and Legislative Legal Services voted 3-0 that the proposed 2010 Personhood Amendment meets the required single subject rule and also voted 3-0 that the language is not misleading.

Personhood Colorado Director, Gualberto Garcia Jones J.D., and Colorado Right to Life V.P., Leslie Hanks, explained the technical difference between the 2008 Personhood Amendment and this year’s. 

“Our decision to use the words ‘the beginning of biological development of a human being’ as opposed to ‘the moment of fertilization’ allows us to protect all human beings, even those originating from asexual forms of reproduction,” said Leslie Hanks.

 Several changes were suggested by members of the Title Board to the draft submitted by Legislative Legal Services; these changes were welcomed by the proponents. “The language suggested by the Title board reinforced our most fundamental  civic principle,” noted Gualberto Garcia Jones.  “While the state has no authority to grant inalienable rights, it has the obligation to protect them, and we believe the 2010 Personhood Amendment language accomplishes that ,” said Garcia Jones.

The Title as designated and fixed by the board now reads, “An amendment to the Colorado Constitution applying the term “person” as used in those provisions of the Colorado Constitution relating to inalienable rights, equality of justice, and
due process of law, to every human being from the beginning of the biological development of that human being.”

In 2007, the Colorado State Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision upholding a similar ruling by the Title Board.

Proposed changes in the language prompted a discussion and concern that the language could be interpreted as allowing the inclusion of apes as “persons” just as other nations are currently considering.  The proponents were pleased to accept language that excludes that possibility. 

“Today the Attorney General’s office, The Secretary of State’s office and Office of Legislative Legal Services made it clear that the language of the 2010 Personhood Amendment satisfied their statutory requirements,” said Garcia Jones, “we are pleased that the amendment will extend the protections of our constitution to all human beings.”

The proponents of the 2010 Personhood Amendment are looking forward to an unprecedented grass roots campaign to collect the necessary signatures to put the 2010 Personhood Amendment on the ballot.

 For interviews with Colorado Right to Life V.P., Leslie Hanks please contact Donna at Colorado Right to Life: 303 753-9394

For interviews with the Director of Personhood Colorado, Gualberto Garcia Jones J.D. please call 303 456 2700