ULSTER DEANERY RESPECT LIFE COMMITTEE, 

Port Ewen-Esopus, New York

www.ulsterdeaneryrespectlife.org 

PRESS RELEASE (for Immediate Release)

INTOLERANCE FLARES IN ESOPUS AS PRO-LIFE BILLBOARD OF THE ULSTER DEANERY RESPECT LIFE COMMITTEE ON ROUTE 9W IS VANDALIZED AGAIN 

Nov. 14, 2022 (Esopus, New York) - In the wake of an emotionally charged period of elections, a grim discovery was made on the afternoon of November 14 of deplatforming the peaceful expression of free speech and a pro-life message via the vandalism and destruction of a pro-life billboard placed on the southbound side of Route 9W at Esopus.  The picture of the tattered remains of the billboard along with pro-abortion graffiti is attached.

Fr. Arthur Rojas, the Moderator and Spiritual Director of the Ulster Deanery Respect Life Committee, which coordinates efforts by local Catholics and allies for the pro-life cause in Ulster County (www.ulsterdeaneryrespectlife.org), made the discovery as he drove northbound on Route 9W this afternoon.  Upon seeing the tattered, wretched remains of the pro-life poster on the billboard, at once he went over to take pictures of the scene and to contact the Ulster County Sheriff's Office, which sent a deputy to meet Fr. Rojas and to commence the investigation.  

"This is the second incident of attempted intimidation and silencing of the local pro-life voice in Esopus," stated Fr. Rojas.  He added, "We are grateful for the professionalism shown by the Ulster County Sheriff's Office as we seek a thorough investigation into the matter, which itself casts a shadow on freedom of expression and democratic debate in our community."

As with the first incident of vandalism in June 2022, the Moderator of the Ulster Deanery Respect Life Committee promised that the Committee would not flinch from renewing the poster on the billboard as part of the Committee's peaceful, prayerful, and persistent pro-life advocacy.  "We are neither intimidated nor we will be silenced.  This attack demonstrates that our billboard is touching consciences and raising awareness.  The pro-life billboard is exactly where it should be and it will stay there.," declared Fr. Rojas.

The Ulster Deanery Respect Life Committee is composed of affiliates from various Catholic parishes and groups in Ulster County.  The Committee is also working with the local Bruderhof on pro-life issues of mutual concord.  

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* Below is a link of the article on the Ulster Deanery Respect Life Committee and the billboard incident on page 22 of the latest issue of “Catholic New York”.*

Pro-Life Billboards Vandalized in Esopus.

* Below is a link to an article on the billboard incident in the Kingston Daily Freeman.*

Anti-abortion billboards vandalized on Route 9W.