Dear John,
WHAT A NIGHT!
I want to share with you what happened in Belfast last night - because you were part of it.
On Monday 28th September, Belfast City Hall was supposed to be illuminated to celebrate abortion.
But it didn't happen.
Instead, hundreds of people gathered in Belfast to make their voices heard for LIFE. And something truly remarkable happened.
🕯️ BELFAST CITY HALL SHONE FOR LIFE 🕯️
As the sun was setting, hundreds of people gathered at Donegall Place before marching together through the city centre towards Belfast City Hall. We carried our banners, placards and signs. And we carried beautiful white LED light sticks each one printed with the words: CHOOSE LIFE
As we approached City Hall, the sight was incredible - Lights for Life shining through Belfast, carried by people standing together for the unborn child.
And there was another remarkable moment. Belfast City Hall was actually illuminated in white. The very City Hall that had been intended to be illuminated in support of abortion was instead standing there in its beautiful white lights, while hundreds of people outside were holding our lights and proclaiming: CHOOSE LIFE
It was a powerful and deeply poignant sight.
THE "CHOOSE LIFE" MESSAGE COULD NOT BE MISSED
We had also hired a lorry carrying a huge, bright digital screen. Throughout the day, it travelled around Belfast displaying: CHOOSE LIFE and ABORTION? NOT IN OUR NAME. Thousands of people across Belfast saw that message before our event even began.
Then, as we gathered at City Hall, the lorry was positioned right at the gates. Its huge illuminated screen could not be missed. Everyone walking or driving past City Hall could see it.
CHOOSE LIFE. ABORTION? NOT IN OUR NAME. Our message was right there in the heart of Belfast.
  
A POWERFUL WITNESS FOR LIFE
When the crowd arrived, I had the privilege of addressing the people from our stage. I told them the most remarkable things about the whole evening: The plan to illuminate City Hall in celebration of abortion had failed. Instead, hundreds of people had come together and the message of LIFE was shining outside City Hall.
We were also honoured to welcome a number of very special guest speakers [watch the LiveStream of the speeches here...]
Adele Best shared her deeply personal testimony of having experienced two abortions. She spoke passionately about the devastating consequences abortion had on her life and about the impact abortion has on both women and their unborn children.
We also had a profoundly moving moment when our friend Emma - a pregnant mother - joined us at the stage. An ultrasound doppler was placed on her abdomen, and then the sound of her baby's heartbeat was played through our PA system.
Think about that for a moment...
The heartbeat of an unborn baby was sounding out across Belfast... from the very place where abortion had been due to be publicly celebrated.
It was a beautiful and unforgettable moment.
A UNITED VOICE FOR LIFE
We were also joined by political and community representatives from different backgrounds.
Belfast City Councillor and former Belfast Lord Mayor Tracy Kelly (DUP) spoke, as did Belfast City Councillor Ron McDowell (TUV) - both of whom had spoken against the proposed illumination during the Council process. We also heard from Ian Paisley Jr, former DUP MP, Aiden Carlin, representing Aontú, and Nathan Anderson from Liberty NI.
Barry Mallett from the Catholic group Guardians of the Faith, also addressed the gathering.
The event concluded with a beautiful song sung by Rachel Shields.
To see people from different political traditions, different Christian backgrounds and different parts of our community standing together on the same platform was a very significant moment. Northern Ireland has known far too much division. Yet here we were, standing together for life. Whatever our different backgrounds or political affiliations, we were united by one simple conviction: Every unborn child has value and must be defended and protected.
PRECIOUS LIFE'S VICTORY IS YOUR VICTORY TOO
I want you to know something very important. This didn't happen by accident. When we first learned of the plans to illuminate Belfast City Hall, Precious Life immediately took action.
We launched our ACTION ALERT. You responded.
We launched our PETITION. More than 20,000 people signed it.
We invited Christian and pro-life organisations across Northern Ireland to unite with us. They signed our OPEN LETTER to Belfast City Council.
We kept the issue in the public eye. We challenged the decision.
And then we organised our CHOOSE LIFE event at the City Hall.
And last night, you came. You prayed. You signed. You shared. You responded. You donated. You brought your families and friends. You carried the lights. You marched to City Hall. And you stood with us. You were part of making this happen.
THE PRO-ABORTS EXPECTED BELFAST TO CELBRATE ABORTION
The so-called "National Women's Council of Ireland" has publicly expressed its disappointment that the Belfast City Hall illumination was halted and will not now go ahead. Sadly, buildings in Dublin - the Mansion House and Trinity College - were illuminated as part of the NWC's celebration of abortion.
But here in Belfast, the planned abortion illumination DID NOT HAPPEN.
Instead of Belfast City Hall becoming the backdrop for a celebration of abortion, the evening became the backdrop for an extraordinary public witness for life. Hundreds of people. Hundreds of lights. A giant CHOOSE LIFE message. A baby's heartbeat sounding across Belfast. And one united voice saying: WE CHOOSE LIFE.
I am deeply grateful to every single person who played a part in this campaign.
Thank you for praying. Thank you for taking action. Thank you for signing and sharing our petition. Thank you for responding to our Action Alerts. Thank you for supporting Precious Life. And thank you to everyone who came to Belfast last night and stood with us at City Hall.
You made your voice heard. You helped make the message visible. And together, we showed Belfast that the voice for LIFE cannot simply be ignored.
Last night was a powerful reminder of what can happen when people stand together with courage, determination and hope.
Our work continues and our message remains as clear as ever: CHOOSE LIFE.
With heartfelt thanks for standing with us,
Bernadette Smyth
Director
Precious Life
P.S. You can still help us cover the costs of organising our powerful CHOOSE LIFE event. Your support will help us continue being a voice for the unborn child. Thank you again for standing for life with us!
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