Truck Stop
By John Albus
© 2003 Honolulu Weekly

Since September, a gruesome truck has been shocking passersby as it purposefully cruises O'ahu streets. The truck's side and back panels are emblazoned with lurid, blood-red photographs of a fetus, supposedly aborted at 10 weeks, shown next to a dime to depict scale. The sole text is the word "Choice."

The Center for Bioethical Reform, based in Los Angeles and formed in 1990, began deploying the trucks on America's streets in 2001.

Reached by phone, CBR's executive director Gregg Cunningham, a former Pennsylvania legislator, was evasive. He would not disclose the number of trucks on O'ahu nor CBR's local organizers nor the name and telephone number of the truck driver. According to one concerned Kailua resident who tried to talk to the truck's driver, the driver locked the van's door and began videotaping out the window when she approached.

Next on the group's Honolulu agenda, Cunningham said, are plans to fly aerial banners with pictures and words similar to those on the truck. CBR has run such campaigns in beach cities like San Diego and along the Jersey Shore.

When questioned about the impact of aerial banners on Hawai'i, a state that has been legislatively vigilant against billboard advertisements, Cunningham said, "It's laughable that you care more about the aesthetics of scenery than you do about the savagery of killing babies."

Barry Raff, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Hawai'i, reported that since the CBR truck arrived here, the level of anti-abortion protest has escalated at Planned Parenthood's South King Street clinic.

"Where there used to be respectful protests," Raff said, "now there has been trespassing and property damage. Unfortunately, Hawai'i is starting to mimic the types of anti-abortion activity on the Mainland.

"They want to shock, intimidate and misinform people," he said. "They offer no solutions."