Abortion protest leader: Charleston gun incident galvanized national movement

David Bereit spoke Friday about the abuse that members of the “40 Days for Life” movement have endured during years of peaceful prayer vigils at abortion clinics when, as though on cue, a car alarm sounded for several minutes from the parking lot at the Charleston Women’s Medical Center across the street.

Bereit, national campaign director for 40 Days for Life, ignored the car alarm just as he did when, moments later, the driver of another car pulled out of the West Ashley clinic’s parking lot and laid on the horn as it passed him.

Bereit said opponents’ attempts to silence their movement has had the opposite effect. He said no single action has done more to galvanize the organization than an Oct. 2 incident at the West Ashley clinic in which a Tennessee physician is accused of pointing a gun at three local members.

Charleston police arrested Gary Boyle, 62, on charges of pointing a firearm after protesters said he brandished a black handgun loaded with 15 rounds, according to a police report.

“As I’ve been traveling across the nation over these last couple of weeks, everywhere people are talking about what happened here,” Bereit said. “I have people telling me they are getting involved in the pro life movement because what happened in Charleston, S.C. created a clear contrast between good and bad, between life and death, between choice and life.”

Read more in Saturday’s editions of The Post and Courier.