Several major U.S. newspapers reportedly refused to run a pro-life ad showing what a 20 to 24-week-old baby looks like in a woman’s womb. The ad was rejected for being “too controversial,” LifeSiteNews.com reports.
The Chicago Tribune, USA Today and the LA Times refused to run the advertisement created by Heroic Media, a national pro-life organization.
The ad, pictured below, features a hand holding a 20 to 24-week old baby accompanied by text that reads, “This child has no voice, which is why it depends on yours. Speak up.”
Heroic Media Executive Director Joe Young said he was shocked and angered that the media outlets were willing to talk about the issue but were unwilling to show the reality of life at 20 weeks.
“I am disturbed that these papers would run article after article promoting the notion that abortion is a victimless act without consequences,” Young said. “The fact remains, children who are unique individuals – never again to be duplicated – are being killed in the most violent way imaginable and they feel the excruciating pain of that death.”
The newspapers took issue with the image of the baby.
“It seems as though it is okay to talk about the issue in general, but when you actually put a face to the discussion, then it becomes controversial,” Young said.
Young said Heroic Media created the ad after the House of Representatives passed the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which bans abortion at or after 20 weeks and is based on research that suggests unborn babies feel pain.
The ad was designed to encourage people to contact members of the Senate and urge them to consider passing the bill.
“Americans deserve to know the truth about the children sentenced to die for no fault of their own and that we have a chance to spare some of them through this legislation,” Young said.
After initially being rejected, Heroic Media reportedly submitted a new ad with a different photo of a 20-week-old baby in utero.
The Chicago Tribune agreed to run the ad with the second image so long as it is clear it is a paid advertisement, the report adds.
