Joseph Hunter stood on the other side of the street from a
Planned Parenthood facility in Ventura on Tuesday afternoon and led a
group in prayer.
"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee," Hunter prayed as 30 or so people repeated the prayer.
"Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus," the 71-year-old lifelong Catholic prayed.
Hunter
and others were gathered along Ralston Street awaiting the arrival of
David Bereit. Bereit heads a group that campaigns against abortion
across the United States and in other parts of the world.
"Every human life is just as valuable as mine," Hunter said as a sky-blue motorhome pulled up and parked in front of the group.
"They're
here," a woman in the group exclaimed as Bereit and others stepped out
of the motorhome and greeted those standing along the sidewalk.
Tuesday
was Day 28 of a cross-nation tour that Bereit is conducting as part of
his campaign, 40 Days for Life. In Ventura, he was met by a receptive
crowd, although not all the stops have been as peaceful.
"We're
going to visit all 48 states," Bereit said, noting that other members
of the group are visiting Alaska and Hawaii as part of a campaign to end
abortion. The organization plans on doing so city by city, Bereit said.
The 40-day tour started in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 28 and will end in Virginia on Election Day, Nov. 8.
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