LETTERS: PUBLIC HAS RIGHT TO ATTEND MEDIA EVENT

To the editor:

I want to share with you a factual story that happened to me in the governor's office on July 12. This story is being shared around Missouri during our travels to encourage support for the override of the governor's veto of House Bill 427. It is being shared to show the blatant lack of respect for law and a government for the people and by the people, as well as a lack of respect for life.

Upon entering the outer office of the governor's office, I was asked by the executive director of the Missouri affiliate of the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League who I was. I identified myself. I was told by the NARAL executive director, who was passing out the governor's statement, that I could not enter the room for a press conference, because this was a private meeting. I said, "Excuse me. I don't think so." The NARAL executive director called a security guard over, and he told me I would have to wait at the door until he found out if it was appropriate and OK for me to enter the room. I waited. The press conference began. The security guard came back and stood at the door. He never said another word to me. I listened to the press conference outside the room at the door.

Pro-life legislators of the Missouri General Assembly should be appalled by this. If a citizen of Missouri who helps pay the governor's salary cannot enter the office of the governor for a public meeting addressing a public issue that will affect every citizen of the state, then something is wrong with government. Everyone in that room was chosen to be there for a made-for-media event, giving a skewed point of view. We have to stand up and put a stop to this form of government, not as radicals but as regular people. If the governor is afraid to face the public on banning partial-birth abortion and has set up support to explain his excuses, then this scenario leads one to wonder why and what the governor owes to Missouri NARAL. The citizens of Missouri will hear about this.

We at Missouri Right to Life thank pro-life legislators for their stand thus far. We want to encourage these legislators to stand firm in their vote to override the governor's veto.

SUSAN KLEIN, Executive Director

Missouri Right to Life

Jefferson City