Anti-abortion billboard turning heads

MARINETTE - A billboard dealing with the controversial topic of abortion is getting some attention. The billboard is in Marinette, near the high school. It's been up for about a week and a half. So far, there have been a variety of interpretations, and responses to it.

"It's a little awkward and offensive," said Samantha Bosch, a sophomore at Marinette High School.

"It's just an anti-abortion sign is all I really see it as," said Shane Cahill, a senior.

"It's the way teenagers talk," Michael Ebert, LifeCore president explained. "If someone is out too late they say 'my mother's going to kill me.' This girl has gotten pregnant and she says 'my mom's going to kill me.' Well what we also have is this girl is pregnant, and it's clear you can see the baby. The baby does not have a voice so we're giving the baby a voice: 'my mom really is going to kill me.' We give a place that if they want help: Bay Area Pregnancy Services provides alternatives for abortion and helps the girls who get into this situation."

The billboard is paid for by LifeCore, a non-profit organization based in Menominee, Mich.

"We have the message of what the problem is, and we have the message of where the girls can go to get help. No girl should have to go through this alone and they shouldn't have to have an abortion," said Ebert.

However, some of those passing by didn't get that message at first glance.

"It also gives off the statement that it kind of scares the pregnant people," said Bosch. "Like saying my parents are going to kill me when they find out so the only thing I should do is get an abortion or something along those lines."

"I don't mind it being here," said Cahill. "It's alright that you're trying to portray your idea here. This is a busy intersection. This is where all the teens come from. I'm personally pro-choice, though. It doesn't really matter to me."

Another high school student agrees with the anti-abortion message, but thinks the billboard is promoting it the wrong way.

"I think it's very graphic," said Marinette High School sophomore Marie Arnold. "It could have been expressed in a completely different way."

The billboard has been turning heads, and will likely continue to do so for the next month it is up.

Some have expressed concern about explaining the billboard to children. LifeCore's president says if a child is old enough to understand reproduction, the child is also old enough to understand the issue. A similar billboard is on display on Highway 41 just across the river in Menominee, Mich.