FOND DU LAC CITY COUNCIL REJECTS PRO-LIFE PROCLAMATION
By Anna DeMeuse, Pro-Life Wisconsin Communications Director
On Wednesday, January 13, 2021, much to the disappointment of many city residents, Fond du Lac City Council President Brian Kolstad denied the request to proclaim January as Pro-Life Month in the city of Fond du Lac, stating the following, as described in the Fond du Lac Reporter:
“Today I will exercise this privilege to not present this proclamation,” Kolstad said. “I am not required to give a reason, but in my opinion this proclamation has value only as a political statement with little or no value in building good will in the community.”
At the request of a large group of individuals from Pro-Life Wisconsin’s Fond du Lac County affiliate, the proclamation was submitted to the council in June 2020 by council member, Dan Degner. The submission of the pro-life proclamation followed shortly after members of the Fond du Lac City Council proclaimed June as Pride Month for LGBTQ equality.
City Council President Kolstad is now choosing to deny even presenting a pro-life proclamation, citing that it is explicitly political in nature and has little to no value to the community. This did not seem to be a concern of his just last summer when a large group of Fond du Lac residents gathered in front of city council, debating for over two hours both in opposition and in favor of proclaiming June as Pride Month – a personally and politically charged issue for many. In the end, City Council President Kolstad accepted and read that proclamation.
Abortion is a human rights issue not bound by politics, and to many citizens of Fond du lac, protecting the preborn is of the utmost value. As citizens, it is our duty to promote the rights of the most vulnerable and as the proclamation states, “to create a positive environment where we can develop a culture of respect for all lives.”
State Director of Pro-Life Wisconsin, Dan Miller, offered the following message to Fond du Lac City Council President, Brian Kolstad:
“You are an elected official, and your duty is to govern fairly all of your constituents, not just the ones you agree with ideologically or politically. Your decision to exercise your privilege smacks of derision, further division, and leading from behind. God bless Councilman Degner and the Pro-Life Wisconsin Fond du Lac County affiliate members for leading the charge in this 48th year of the horrific and still unsettled Roe v Wade debacle."
Julie Peterson of Pro-Life Wisconsin’s Fond du Lac County affiliate and Cindy Sweeney, executive director of Charis Pregnancy Help Center in Fond du Lac, were present and spoke in favor of the pro-life proclamation. As a post-abortive mother, Sweeney shared her unique perspective, expressing regret for her abortion saying, “The pain never goes away."
Peterson conveyed her disappointment in the refusal of the pro-life proclamation saying, "This should have been a day we could honor together as a community. This would have been a moment of life to shine into the darkness. I am very disappointed.”
Despite city council member Dan Degner’s motion to overturn Kolstad’s judgement, the motion was unable to garner a two-thirds vote. Dan Degner, Arletta Allen, and Ben Giles voted in favor. Brian Kolstad, Alicia Hans, and Donna Richards voted against. Kay Miller was absent.
Degner commented said, “The hypocrisy is evident. Promoting liberal proclamations because the ‘rules made required us to do it’ but then to violate the rules to deny the pro-life one is alarming.”
Pro-Life Wisconsin thanks city council member, Dan Degner for submitting the proclamation, our Fond du Lac County affiliate members for their vocal support of the proclamation, and city council members, Arletta Allen and Ben Giles for voting in favor.
Updates: A compromise was made in the days after this publication to name January 2021 “Sanctity of Life Month” instead of “Pro-Life Month.” Instead of highlighting the political language, positive things pro-life groups are doing in our community were highlighted. Thank you City Council Member Dan Degner, City Council President Brian Kolstad, and members of the Fond du Lac City Council.
Official proclamation:
