OAK BROOK - This year's SpeakOut Illinois gathered over 550 pro-lifers together -- over 400 adults and over 150 teens -- for their annual unity and training conference. The keynote speakers were Abby Johnson, former Planned Parenthood abortion worker turned prolife, and Cardinal Francis George, who received the Henry Hyde Life Leadership Award.
The panel discussions included a discussion of upcoming legislation featured Bob Gilligan of Illinois Catholic Conference, Ralph Rivera of Illinois Citizens for Life, and Dave Smith of Illinois Family Institute. Other panels featured John-Paul Deddens, Students for Life of Illinois, discussing ways to reach college campuses with the prolife message, and Tom Ciesielka of TCPR, discussing how to work with the media.
Public officials announced in attendance were Congressman Joe Walsh, State Senator Chris Lauzen, State Rep. Chris Nybo, Board of Review Commissioner Dan Patlak, congressional candidates Jack Cunningham and Rich Evans, Senate candidate Lennie Jarrett, Illinois House candidates Vince Romano, Dave Carlin, Chris Hage, Jeannie Ives, and Janet Silosky, Bd. of Rev. Comm. candidate Sean Morrison, and Bill Kelly. Peter Breen, of the Thomas More Society, served as emcee of the event.
Illinois Review thanks Peter Breen for the update
