BY EVE TAFT, STAFF WRITER

An anti-abortion protester appeared on the corner of Murphy Square on the afternoon of Oct.18. On Oct.19, he returned. This time with another protester.

Murphy Square is the property of the city, meaning that the demonstration was on public property, though the park lies in the heart of Augsburg’s campus.

They carried signs and wore GoPros around their waists. Until approached, they remained silent.

Their signs read, “God hates hands that shed innocent blood,” “May I pray for you?” “Jesus is the only way to heaven,” and other messages that compared abortion to child sacrifice to the pagan gods Baal and Moloch.

Tim Bishop Junior, a student in the crowd, confirmed that they considered all abortion sacrifices to non-Christian deities.

The protesters refused to disclose what church they attended.

The demonstrators stood with their signs for several hours both days, drawing a crowd of five to fifteen people. Many Augsburg students engaged with the protesters on both days they were present, debating theology and morality or denouncing the protesters’ messages. Others held signs opposing the anti-abortion messages.

At one point, a student grabbed a sign, pulled it from the protester’s hand and dropped it on the ground. The demonstrator recovered the sign and did not retaliate physically.

When questioned as to whether they were judging others, something specifically forbidden in Christian teaching, they replied by asking “if the crowd was judging them,” Bishop said.

The protesters focused on the idea that only New Testament rules applied now after the death and resurrection of Christ.

While engaging with the protestors, Bishop mentioned being queer. One replied, “We can fix that.” DPS was present throughout the demonstration.

Campus Ministry explicitly denied affiliation with the protestors and placed signs on the clock tower assuring students of their commitment to inclusivity.

The protesters have not been back since the Oct.19.

This article first appeared in the Friday, November 3, 2017, Edition of The Echo.