They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

Antis this week have used their children as props, more than in any time I can remember in the recent past.

This anti from Operation Save America was preaching on an amplified system, reaching between 90 and 100 decibels for much of the morning, with his 17 month old son in his arms.

As he preached, directing his shaming to the waiting room window of EMW, he told us all that he could have had his son aborted right here 17 months ago*. But no; he loved him; he was grateful to have a wonderful child to love and raise.

Not ten minutes later, another escort looked over at the corner of the sidewalk next the the three-lane Market Street to see his young son parked, unattended, in his stroller.

This is not loving and cherishing. This is using another human being as a prop. And when I thought I had seen it all, OSA directed all their young children, ranging from about four to ten years old, to march up to the property line and pray over the escorts and the clinic for the salvation of our souls. Escorts stationed on the front line said it was so painful and shameful to see children used this way that they quietly and respectfully turned around while the children chanted, sang, and spoke in tongues behind them.

Encouraged on by OSA leaders who were coaching and filming delightedly, these children were broadcast live for viewers of conservative blogs. Among them were Elizabeth Johnston, the “Activist Mommy” of “burn Teen Vogue” fame; these exploitative antics with children received some push-back from her own fans.

“Now, you see here, our children…” Screengrabs from “The Activist Mommy” Facebook page.

I felt nothing but extreme sadness for these young children being used by the very people who claim to cherish them so much.

“Operation Save America brought a large group of children to the protest again EMW Women’s Clinic, at one point lining them up in front of the clinic escorts — who turned to face the clinic — and instructed them to pray at the escorts and clinic. Two adult men exhorted the children into more fervent prayers after positioning them, recording the event with a GoPro camera. The clinic escorts stood professionally and stoically throughout the ordeal.” Image and text courtesy Daniel Hosterman Photography

(*Even prior to the Kentucky 20 week abortion ban, EMW Louisville did not perform procedures past 22 weeks and one day.)